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"SYSTEMIC" PROBLEMS OF ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 19 2014
19 September 2014 - 11:21am
It has become common for any sensational events affecting people
engaged in politics or in contact with political elites to become
politicized. Early this week, the political subtext was found in the
accusation against Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the owner of Sistema and
Bashneft, one of Russia's richest men, of money laundering.
The house arrest of Yevtushenko was declared, based on the testimony
of Igor Izmestyev, a Russian ex-senator who had earlier testified
against Levon Ayrapetyan, one of the most active Armenian lobbyists
and a rich businessman. The latter is suspected of acquiring Bashneft
shares and legalizing funds gained illegally.
The "Armenian trace" in Sistema can be seen very explicitly. Robert
Kocharyan, an Armenian ex-president, has been a member of the board of
directors for years. Experts claim now that the problems of Sistema
will affect the resources of Kocharyan in the internal political
struggle in Armenia. Sistema has never had an office in Armenia, it had
companies representing it there. Sistema owned 53.1% of the shares in
MTS and 50.9% in Komstar-OTS. The latter companies were shareholders
of Armenia's second largest mobile operator K-Telecom (a trademark
of VivaCell-MTS) and internet provider Kornet-AM respectively.
Kocharyan, who has numerously declared his plans to return to Armenian
politics, has no problems with Russian law. Levon Ayrapetyan, however,
who has never officially been in politics, does have such problems.
The Armenian diaspora abroad is doing its best to politicize the case
of Ayrapetyan, one of the world's richest Armenians. Activists of the
diaspora have organized anti-Russian protests in European and American
cities, and urged French singer of Armenian origin Charles Aznavour
to cancel a Moscow concert on October 3 as a symbol of solidarity
with the businessman.
Areg Galstyan, a political analyst and Armenia expert, accused diaspora
officials who were not efficient enough of politicizing the process:
"If Baku and Ankara can order the arrest of one of the most influential
Armenians in the world, it means that we have big problems and our
diaspora all over the world is worth nothing."
Attempt to politicize the process went beyond sanity when it became
clear that the Armenian public was not as worried about his fate as
needed. "The great son of the Armenian people is in danger and the
reaction should be immediate, support for Levon Ayrapetyan is the
moral obligation of every Armenian, regardless of their residence and
social status. Support should be moral and absolutely concrete. We
need to evaluate the work of Mr. Ayrapetyan, as Armenians and need
to say that "We are all Levon Ayrapetyans,"" urged Galstyan.
We can only hope that attempts to interfere with justice will only
remain words. Everyone understands that only Themis can evaluate the
actions of a citizen and decide ones fate.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/60134.html
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Sept 19 2014
19 September 2014 - 11:21am
It has become common for any sensational events affecting people
engaged in politics or in contact with political elites to become
politicized. Early this week, the political subtext was found in the
accusation against Vladimir Yevtushenkov, the owner of Sistema and
Bashneft, one of Russia's richest men, of money laundering.
The house arrest of Yevtushenko was declared, based on the testimony
of Igor Izmestyev, a Russian ex-senator who had earlier testified
against Levon Ayrapetyan, one of the most active Armenian lobbyists
and a rich businessman. The latter is suspected of acquiring Bashneft
shares and legalizing funds gained illegally.
The "Armenian trace" in Sistema can be seen very explicitly. Robert
Kocharyan, an Armenian ex-president, has been a member of the board of
directors for years. Experts claim now that the problems of Sistema
will affect the resources of Kocharyan in the internal political
struggle in Armenia. Sistema has never had an office in Armenia, it had
companies representing it there. Sistema owned 53.1% of the shares in
MTS and 50.9% in Komstar-OTS. The latter companies were shareholders
of Armenia's second largest mobile operator K-Telecom (a trademark
of VivaCell-MTS) and internet provider Kornet-AM respectively.
Kocharyan, who has numerously declared his plans to return to Armenian
politics, has no problems with Russian law. Levon Ayrapetyan, however,
who has never officially been in politics, does have such problems.
The Armenian diaspora abroad is doing its best to politicize the case
of Ayrapetyan, one of the world's richest Armenians. Activists of the
diaspora have organized anti-Russian protests in European and American
cities, and urged French singer of Armenian origin Charles Aznavour
to cancel a Moscow concert on October 3 as a symbol of solidarity
with the businessman.
Areg Galstyan, a political analyst and Armenia expert, accused diaspora
officials who were not efficient enough of politicizing the process:
"If Baku and Ankara can order the arrest of one of the most influential
Armenians in the world, it means that we have big problems and our
diaspora all over the world is worth nothing."
Attempt to politicize the process went beyond sanity when it became
clear that the Armenian public was not as worried about his fate as
needed. "The great son of the Armenian people is in danger and the
reaction should be immediate, support for Levon Ayrapetyan is the
moral obligation of every Armenian, regardless of their residence and
social status. Support should be moral and absolutely concrete. We
need to evaluate the work of Mr. Ayrapetyan, as Armenians and need
to say that "We are all Levon Ayrapetyans,"" urged Galstyan.
We can only hope that attempts to interfere with justice will only
remain words. Everyone understands that only Themis can evaluate the
actions of a citizen and decide ones fate.
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/articles/politics/60134.html