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FROM MEN'S WORLD TO PETTICOAT POWER?: BUSINESSWOMAN'S CLAIMS GIVING A HEADACHE TO MALE-DOMINATED ARMENIAN OLIGARCHY
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
16.11.11 | 14:03
Silva Hambartsumyan (left), Surik Khachatryan
The case of businesswoman Silva Hambartsumyan has a potential of
becoming a crowbar that will undermine the current oligarchic system
in Armenia and especially the oligarchy in the mining sector.
Hambartsumyan, who until recently wasn't much of a public figure, owns
large businesses both in the mining industry, imports and baking. She
has become a rare large businessperson who is trying to solve her
business-related problems using publicity as a powerful weapon. Until
now, such problems have mostly been solved behind the scenes.
On November 10, Hambartsumyan called a press conference and made a
series of sensational accusations. She accused the governor of Syunik
of forcibly taking her gold mine and stealing expensive equipment
and accused Samvel Alexanyan, a sugar import monopolist, of getting
excessive profits by increasing sugar prices twofold and also claimed
that bread in Armenia could be solved at half the price it is sold
for at present.
After that, on November 13, Syunik governor Surik Khachatryan
reportedly saw Habmartsumyan at the lobby of the Marriott hotel
in Yerevan and beat her using his fists, a claim later denied by
Khachatryan.
Hambartsumyan this time again decided to resort to public defense
and reported the incident. Until now such "disputes" would not become
part of a public discourse and would be resolved between the parties
immediately involved in them.
But the most interesting thing is that the Special Investigation
Service of Armenia has actually opened a criminal investigation
against governor Khachatryan on suspicion that he may have beaten
Hambartsumyan. Prosecutors are also investigating her claim regarding
the theft of expensive equipment at the gold mine in Syunik.
Hambartsumyan, in fact, has accused the Government of the absence of
a level playing field for businesses, of protecting public officials
who openly do business and encouraging arbitrary prices and impunity
in the market.
She told about how she purchased the gold mines. The license to
operate the Lichkvaz-Tey and Terterasar gold deposits in the Meghri
region was issued in 1999 to the Sipan-1 company.
In 2005, Sipan-1LTD was purchased by one Australian company. Later,
86.21 percent of the shares of this Australian company was purchased
by another Australian company. And in September 2008 that Australian
company decided not to deploy additional resources in Armenia. The
Australians said that the gold reserves were less than they had
expected. After some time, Hambartsumyan purchased Sipan-1.
"The Australians ran away because they were very much frightened
by the governor of Syunik Suren Khachatryan, who said to them: you
should leave it and go, as this deposit should become mine. And they
got frightened and sold everything," said the businesswoman, adding
that the Syunik governor stole equipment worth a total of $102 million
drams (about $ 270,000) from Lichkvaz-Tey and that this equipment is
now at the Gehvadzor deposit that belongs to Khachatryan.
Hambartsumyan says that despite the lawlessness that exists in her
respect she will continue to invest not only in the mining sector,
but also in the food industry. Until December 20 a large bakery will
be opened in the Avan district of Yerevan. After that the businesswoman
intends to lower bread prices by 30 percent.
Now some in the Armenian public are eager to see how the investigation
on claims against the controversial Syunik governor will unfold.
From: Baghdasarian
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
16.11.11 | 14:03
Silva Hambartsumyan (left), Surik Khachatryan
The case of businesswoman Silva Hambartsumyan has a potential of
becoming a crowbar that will undermine the current oligarchic system
in Armenia and especially the oligarchy in the mining sector.
Hambartsumyan, who until recently wasn't much of a public figure, owns
large businesses both in the mining industry, imports and baking. She
has become a rare large businessperson who is trying to solve her
business-related problems using publicity as a powerful weapon. Until
now, such problems have mostly been solved behind the scenes.
On November 10, Hambartsumyan called a press conference and made a
series of sensational accusations. She accused the governor of Syunik
of forcibly taking her gold mine and stealing expensive equipment
and accused Samvel Alexanyan, a sugar import monopolist, of getting
excessive profits by increasing sugar prices twofold and also claimed
that bread in Armenia could be solved at half the price it is sold
for at present.
After that, on November 13, Syunik governor Surik Khachatryan
reportedly saw Habmartsumyan at the lobby of the Marriott hotel
in Yerevan and beat her using his fists, a claim later denied by
Khachatryan.
Hambartsumyan this time again decided to resort to public defense
and reported the incident. Until now such "disputes" would not become
part of a public discourse and would be resolved between the parties
immediately involved in them.
But the most interesting thing is that the Special Investigation
Service of Armenia has actually opened a criminal investigation
against governor Khachatryan on suspicion that he may have beaten
Hambartsumyan. Prosecutors are also investigating her claim regarding
the theft of expensive equipment at the gold mine in Syunik.
Hambartsumyan, in fact, has accused the Government of the absence of
a level playing field for businesses, of protecting public officials
who openly do business and encouraging arbitrary prices and impunity
in the market.
She told about how she purchased the gold mines. The license to
operate the Lichkvaz-Tey and Terterasar gold deposits in the Meghri
region was issued in 1999 to the Sipan-1 company.
In 2005, Sipan-1LTD was purchased by one Australian company. Later,
86.21 percent of the shares of this Australian company was purchased
by another Australian company. And in September 2008 that Australian
company decided not to deploy additional resources in Armenia. The
Australians said that the gold reserves were less than they had
expected. After some time, Hambartsumyan purchased Sipan-1.
"The Australians ran away because they were very much frightened
by the governor of Syunik Suren Khachatryan, who said to them: you
should leave it and go, as this deposit should become mine. And they
got frightened and sold everything," said the businesswoman, adding
that the Syunik governor stole equipment worth a total of $102 million
drams (about $ 270,000) from Lichkvaz-Tey and that this equipment is
now at the Gehvadzor deposit that belongs to Khachatryan.
Hambartsumyan says that despite the lawlessness that exists in her
respect she will continue to invest not only in the mining sector,
but also in the food industry. Until December 20 a large bakery will
be opened in the Avan district of Yerevan. After that the businesswoman
intends to lower bread prices by 30 percent.
Now some in the Armenian public are eager to see how the investigation
on claims against the controversial Syunik governor will unfold.
From: Baghdasarian