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NO FRIENDS IN NEED?: LACK OF OFFICIAL REACTION AS PROMINENT ARMENIAN BUSINESSMAN GETS ARRESTED IN MOSCOW
Analysis | 18.07.14 | 11:44
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Hayrapetyan Victim of Azeri "Order"?: Detention of Karabakh native
leads to public speculation
A court in Moscow on July 17 issued an arrest warrant for the
well-known Armenian businessman, Levon Hayrapetyan, who is charged
with financial machinations connected with the sale of a Russian oil
company in 2007.
The arrest of the entrepreneur and philanthropist who has invested
millions of dollars into Nagorno-Karabakh's economy, its social
infrastructure and army has caused concerns and sympathy among the
public. However, at the official level, no statement was made, apart
from the nervous answer to a media question by Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan, who said that the Armenian authorities cannot demand
the release of a man who has broken the law just because he is a
philanthropist.
Neither did the Armenian Embassy in Russia or the Union of Armenians
of Russia make any statements. It causes perplexity in society -
in online social networks opinions are already voiced that perhaps
the activities and position of Hayrapetyan was not liked by many
oligarchs in Armenia and abroad.
Hayrapetyan has repeatedly called on wealthy Armenian businessmen
who made big money on the privatization and exploitation of national
wealth to invest in the development of the country. He also spoke
critically about some officials and even called for drawing up a
"list oligarchs" who should "emigrate" from Armenia. Against this
background it is no wonder that President Serzh Sargsyan, who claims
to be the president of not only 3 million citizens of Armenia,
but also a 10-million Armenian people scattered around the world,
does not stand up for Hayrapetyan, at least publicly.
However, it is unlikely that the businessman's arrest was
connected with his attitude towards the Armenian government. The
official version looks quite realistic against the background of the
continuing redistribution of property in Russia where there is quite
keen competition between the three giants - Rosneft, Gazprom and
AFK Systema. Rosneft is trying to purchase the Bashneft oil company,
which is now part of Systema, and it is not ruled out that Hayrapetyan
has become a victim of this particular 'redistribution'.
But there is also a version connected with the activities of
Hayrapetyan in Karabakh, where a Suvorov Military School is now being
built with his sponsorship. The connection of this school with the
Armenian and Russian armies has been emphasized from the very start
of the construction project - it has even been named after two Russian
generals of Armenian origin, Suvorov and Madatov.
Armenia refuses to let the Russian peacekeepers into Karabakh and
Hayrapetyan's close friend - the first commander of the armed forces
of Karabakh Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan (Komandos) recently began to openly
state about the negative role of Russia in the Karabakh settlement
and accuse Moscow of selling weapons to Azerbaijan.
Against this background, there is speculation that the arrest of
Hayrapetyan may be related to the inability of Moscow at this stage
to ensure its military presence in Karabakh and a positive background
for itself in Armenia.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/56168/armenia_businessman_levon_hayrapetyan_arrest_mosco w_official_reaction
Analysis | 18.07.14 | 11:44
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow correspondent
Hayrapetyan Victim of Azeri "Order"?: Detention of Karabakh native
leads to public speculation
A court in Moscow on July 17 issued an arrest warrant for the
well-known Armenian businessman, Levon Hayrapetyan, who is charged
with financial machinations connected with the sale of a Russian oil
company in 2007.
The arrest of the entrepreneur and philanthropist who has invested
millions of dollars into Nagorno-Karabakh's economy, its social
infrastructure and army has caused concerns and sympathy among the
public. However, at the official level, no statement was made, apart
from the nervous answer to a media question by Prime Minister Hovik
Abrahamyan, who said that the Armenian authorities cannot demand
the release of a man who has broken the law just because he is a
philanthropist.
Neither did the Armenian Embassy in Russia or the Union of Armenians
of Russia make any statements. It causes perplexity in society -
in online social networks opinions are already voiced that perhaps
the activities and position of Hayrapetyan was not liked by many
oligarchs in Armenia and abroad.
Hayrapetyan has repeatedly called on wealthy Armenian businessmen
who made big money on the privatization and exploitation of national
wealth to invest in the development of the country. He also spoke
critically about some officials and even called for drawing up a
"list oligarchs" who should "emigrate" from Armenia. Against this
background it is no wonder that President Serzh Sargsyan, who claims
to be the president of not only 3 million citizens of Armenia,
but also a 10-million Armenian people scattered around the world,
does not stand up for Hayrapetyan, at least publicly.
However, it is unlikely that the businessman's arrest was
connected with his attitude towards the Armenian government. The
official version looks quite realistic against the background of the
continuing redistribution of property in Russia where there is quite
keen competition between the three giants - Rosneft, Gazprom and
AFK Systema. Rosneft is trying to purchase the Bashneft oil company,
which is now part of Systema, and it is not ruled out that Hayrapetyan
has become a victim of this particular 'redistribution'.
But there is also a version connected with the activities of
Hayrapetyan in Karabakh, where a Suvorov Military School is now being
built with his sponsorship. The connection of this school with the
Armenian and Russian armies has been emphasized from the very start
of the construction project - it has even been named after two Russian
generals of Armenian origin, Suvorov and Madatov.
Armenia refuses to let the Russian peacekeepers into Karabakh and
Hayrapetyan's close friend - the first commander of the armed forces
of Karabakh Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan (Komandos) recently began to openly
state about the negative role of Russia in the Karabakh settlement
and accuse Moscow of selling weapons to Azerbaijan.
Against this background, there is speculation that the arrest of
Hayrapetyan may be related to the inability of Moscow at this stage
to ensure its military presence in Karabakh and a positive background
for itself in Armenia.
http://armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/56168/armenia_businessman_levon_hayrapetyan_arrest_mosco w_official_reaction