Top Ten Richest People in Armenia?
Blogrel has just posted what it says is a list of the Top Ten Richest People in Armenia as published by the Hayq newspaper. However, while it’s interesting reading I have to wonder if this list is not based on estimates given the way officials and businessmen hide their income.
This is especially true as Kocharian and Serh Sarkisyan declare that they live only on an income of a few hundred dollars a month. The President, for example said his family lived on an annual income of $17,160 in 2002 (and mainly from one of his sons) which of course, isn’t true.
Regardless, here’s the list as quoted by Blogrel.
Gagik Tsarukyan (commonly known as Dodi Gago) - businessman;
Armen Avetisyan - The Chairman of the State Customs Committee;
Mikael Baghdasarov - businessman;
Hrant Vardanyan - businessman;
Suqiasyan Family - businessmen;
Yervand Zakharyan - Mayor of Yerevan;
Robert Kocharyan - President of the Republic of Armenia;
Serge Sargsyan - RoA Minister of Defense;
Andranik Manukyan - Minister of Transport and Communication of the RoA;
David Harutyunyan - RoA Minister of Justice;According to the same source, the personal worth of Gagik Tsarukyan is around 400-500 million dollars, while Serge Sargsyan’s somewhere around 150 million dollars.
Blogrel asks sarcastically if the appreciation of the dram against the dollar has affected the wealth of anyone in the list, but I somehow doubt it. Anyway, declaration of income is again going to be a hot issue during the 2007 and 2008 parliamentary and presidential elections — especially if corruption becomes a campaign issue.
For example, if Tsarukian is indeed worth $400-500 million, how come he pays a pittance in taxes? Incidently, yes, that was a rhetorical question…
RFE/RL’s Press Review also carries details of the list.
Comment by Onnik — December 14, 2006 @ 9:29 pm
“, while Serge Sargsyan’s somewhere around 150 million dollars.”
How is this even explainable? Wasn’t he a soldier a little over 10 years ago? How is he even capable of explaining his new found wealth? It just sickens me to see this list.
Comment by Michael — December 14, 2006 @ 9:53 pm
When one is in government it is preferable….that they cease their any business link to someone they know…..
Comment by g_sernaz — December 15, 2006 @ 1:28 am
How very fortunate are the top ten richest people in Armenia! I wonder, with all their wealth, have they helped the people in Kashatagh, Karabagh’s Lachin area yet?
The Christmas Season is here, Gentlemen of Wealth, and your fellow Armenians need your help. They need it deperately. For a moment, put yourselves in their shoes–cold, hungry, and hopeless. Open your hearts and help them! After all, it is the Season of Compassion and Charity. And helping those in need throughout the year would not be a bad idea either.
Comment by Knarik O. Meneshian — December 16, 2006 @ 5:05 am
Every time I bring up the issue of corruption in Armenia, my friends tell me that it needs time to democratize. Now, 15 years years later I still see no improvement. My understanding is that the highest paid member of the Government is the president who makes approximately $1.200 a month. The Constitution of Armenia clearly states:
Article 65
A Deputy may not hold any other public office, nor engage in any other paid occupation, except for scientific,
educational and creative work.
The compensation and guarantees for the normal functioning of a Deputy shall be prescribed by law.
Comment by Darwin Jamgochian — December 17, 2006 @ 8:27 am
From today’s RFE/RL Press Review:
Comment by Onnik — December 22, 2006 @ 9:59 pm
Personally for me, for one who lives in Armenia, this rate is absurd.
Moreother I have never heard about this famous “Hayq” newspaper.
Since the huge part of finances in Armenia is hidden and olso we have a “freedom of speech”, when anyone can say anything without any responsibility, time by time dfferent kinds of “tops” appear.
I don’t understand where from they got this “top”.
May be they asked Armen Avetisyan? Or may be Davit Harutyunyan told them?
I’m sure it is impossible to collect such information in Armenia, thats why I don’t trust in this one as well as in all the others.
Comment by Vardan — December 29, 2006 @ 3:46 pm
Right, it can only be an estimate. To collect precise information would probably necesitate official investigations from the tax office and police which is unlikely to happen. Of course, theoretically, we should know how much each of these people are worth, but as you say, everything is hidden and in the shadow.
Comment by Onnik — December 29, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
Hayq (Hayk) is apparently the newspaper of the ANM (HHSh) and it was relaunched again a few months ago after not having been published for a couple of years. Couldn’t find much additional info online, though, other than a few snippets here and tere. I guess the absence of a website has to do with the recent relaunch.
Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.
Comment by Myrthe — December 29, 2006 @ 6:48 pm
Funny how everyone is concentrating on Hayq when they actually only reported the list being published as did other publications. Ironically, it appears as though the list is the work of someone close to Dodi Gago. This from RFE/RL:
Comment by Onnik — December 29, 2006 @ 10:41 pm
SHAT ENQ XNDRUM BOLOR HAY BARELAVNERIN OGNEQ MEZ MASNAKCELU HAMAHYKAKAN XAXERI YEREVANUM. FINANSAKAN PROBLEM UNENQ. XNDRUM ENQ BARI MARDIK OGNENQ MEZ
Comment by ANI — March 28, 2007 @ 11:06 pm