– Mr. Arakelyan, in a recent press conference you said that because of prime minister Tigran Sargsyan a big part of the borrowing to be provided by Russia, i.e. 100 million from the planned 500 million, will be kept in the CIS intergovernmental bank to cover the debts of Nairit company. Do you have any news concerning this?
– This is not the only thing I have said. I brought several other facts as well, which were not refuted by anyone. A group of people were driving the Nairit to bankruptcy on purpose. The problem is that none of the Armenian prime ministers has done so much harm to the Nairit as the incumbent one while he was the CB chairman. He has numerously said that Armenia is a different country with the Nairit company than without it. The tricks and machinations that are done with the Nairit show that they have chosen the second version.
– Are there any solutions to revive the Nairit and cover the debt? The salary debts have already been covered.
– Why don’t you ask the question why they have covered only the debts of salaries and used energy while the debts for gas and steam are outstanding? First, it is logical that the salaries of the employees are paid on the threshold of the mayoral elections because the people of Nairit are used to solving their problems through political methods. Second, the Electric Networks of Armenia company has brought a case against the Nairit demanding to cover the debts. Accordingly, it is logical that they have solved the biggest problems on their way.
– It seems that the situation is not so hopeless because there is some fundraising and at least money is being invested in the company.
– Your idea concerning investments for the company’s development is really funny. The last financial “investment”, which created a debt equaling to 35 million dollar, was not spent on the company’s needs at all. About 10-15% of the sum was paid to cover the salary and energy debts, and the rest of the money, according to my information, was spent on tricks and machinations. The Nairit company is responsible for the 35 million dollars borrowed from the CIS intergovernmental bank, and the Armenian government is the guarantee of that sum. This money was spent to cover the debts artificially generated by the latest owner, Rainovillee company. Specifically, 8 million dollar was given to Rainoville, 22 million dollar was transferred to some financial group from Denmark, and 60 million dram was given to a person named Andranik Hovhannisyan, and the other part, as I said above, was paid to cover the debt of energy and salaries.
– In fact, this 35 million dollar saves Kulikov, the owner of Rainoville, because legal proceedings were instituted against him. Do you agree with this point?
– It is up to you and your readers to make conclusions. I know about the machinations done not only by Kulikov, but other people too, however I don’t want to speak about it now. But I’d like to bring several facts too. First, the company was sold in close conditions and against the business rules. The ones who did the deal can be described as in the famous Soviet movie, which says that such people are “embezzling the socialistic property”. In 2008 the CIS intergovernmental bank and the CB of Armenia jointly audited the Nairit company. According to my information, the auditors found out in the documents that the owner of the company had shown an investment of 60 million in their documents but this money had not been invested. Even more, according to the agreement with the government the Rainoville had to agree any investments with the government before making such investments. The company did not agree anything with the government. You can ask about it the CB representatives involved in the audit, Artak Asatryan and Vardan Hovsepyan.
– Mr. Arakelyan, what is your private motivation in this issue? Why are you the only politician who speaks of these violations?
– I am surprised to see that you are looking for private motivation in my announcements. First, being the leader of a political power with old traditions I think it is my responsibility to prevent any attempts to embezzle the properties that our fathers have created during many years. As for the Nairit, I don’t think the case concerns corruption or private protectionism. There is another fact too. The factory’s salary fund is about 350 million dram, and the 20 top leaders are getting 60 million (prime minister Tigran Sargsyan’s brother is one of them). The administrative staff consisting of 700 employees is getting 150 million, but the other employees and workers, about 2100 people, are getting about 140 million.
– What do you think the prime minister will do in answer to these accusations?
– I think that if he is brave enough he will go to the Nairit very soon and will make a good show for media. Meanwhile, I think he will read a lecture at the company with the topic of “Nairit and millennium challenges in the crisis conditions of sexual reforms”, and of course will say that there are some powers preventing the normal operation and development of Nairit company. He will also say that the dark forces are powerless and the company will work for sure. This is what will happen but the genre of the staging will be the same because the recent events with the company are pretty like a tragicomedy.