New aspects of Armenian offshore scandal revealing
By Mushvig Mehdiyev
The notorious offshore scandal in Armenia is entering a new stage as the victim of the illegal business deal wants to meet directly with the former prime minister of the country.
Paylak Hayrapetyan, a businessman acknowledged as the victim of the offshore scandal linked to Armenia's ex-premier Tigran Sargsyan, has rejected an appeal to confront the only defendant of the case Ashot Sukiasyan.
He is sure that the appeal is aimed at saving the 'big players' of the game and blames the former head of the government in the money laundry.
The Armenian government was afraid of claims about its involvement in defrauding operations and used all means to save its reputation. Immediately after his resignation, the former PM was appointed as Armenia's ambassador to the United States. The appointment caused great concern among Armenians inside and outside of the country.
The document unveiled by Hetq.Am, a partner of the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, shows that between June 25, 2010 and June 15, 2011, Sukiasyan raised $10.7 million loan in the name of Wlispera Holding Ltd. The company borrowed the money from AmeriaBank, which is based in Yerevan but registered in Cyprus with an unknown ownership.
For collateral, Sukiasyan used Hayrapetyan's assets, with his permission. Now AmeriaBank is seizing those assets to pay off the loan.
Hayrapetyan said in an interview with the local newspaper Haykanak Zhamanak that he wants to meet country's former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the Vicar of the Ararat Patriarchal Diocese Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan face to face.
"First of all, I want to directly meet Sargsyan and Kchoyan. I don't want to face Sukiasyan, he is just a tool," Hayrapetyan noted.
The newspaper wrote that Hayrapetyan was preparing for a face to face meeting with Sukiasyan a few weeks ago, but he changed his decision suddenly. He claimed that meeting Sukiasyan would serve the authorities' interest to pull the "big fishes" out of the case.
"Sukiasyan has repeatedly insisted that Sarkisyan and Kchoyan were unaware of the operations," the newspaper wrote, noting that neither Sargsyan, nor Kchoyan still have not been interrogated in regard to the offshore scandal.
Sukiasyan was arrested in Tbilisi on January 31, 2014. Tbilisi Central Court called for his extradition to Armenia on April 15.
Sukiasyan, Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan's godson, has been wanted in connection with the defraudation case of Paylak Hayrapetyan. He was accused of swindling and legitimizing a huge amount of illegally obtained money.
Earlier, Hetq.am published a document proving Sargsyan, Kchoyan and Sukiasyan were the co-owners of the Wlispera Holdings Limited offshore company. Later, Sukiasyan pleaded guilty and declared that he registered the company in Cyprus without permission of Sargsyan and Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan.
The offshore scandal has created a great resonance in Armenia since it its revealing. Resignation of Armenia's former PM Sargsyan on April 3, 2014 has been linked in media to his reported involvement in the offshore scandal. The ex-head of the government has repeatedly denied his involvement in the scandalous business deal.
Attorney General of Cyprus Petros Clerides commented on the offshore event and said it was impossible in his country to register anyone as a shareholder without his own permission. By these words has also raised doubts about Sargsyan's participation in the money laundering.