Yesterday Silva Hambardzumyan, a business lady made several new remarkable announcements in her interview.
It is difficult to recall a single meeting, when she was so open with journalists. Here certainly existed valid reasons. The thing is that Armen Movsisyan RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recognized her “Sipan 1” company license invalid (in Silva Hambardzumyan’s words she has made around 10 million USD investments in that mine). Thus, she has applied to court. This thing, however, never prevented A. Movsisysn from organizing an urgent auction, appointing RA prime-minster Tigran Sargsyan as a president of the auction commission and selling the mine to a company, the shareholder of which is pedophile Serob Ter-Poghosyan- former adviser to prime-minster T. Sargsyan. «And Mr. prime-minister being the president of the auction commission was never present to the auction, probably because he was afraid of his dreadfully illegal actions. It would be very difficult for the prime-minster to participate in that process», said Silva Hambardzumyan by stating that together with Tigran Sargsyan they had studied together in parallel groups of University. In response to our question whether Tigran Sargsyan studied well, S. Hambardzumyan said: «he was a passive student and never studied well. » In response to another question whether the fact of studying together in parallel groups has changed anything in this situation, the business lady said: «How it could change anything, that time I had a car and he probably didn’t have money for cigarette. » As for giving the Akhtala mine to pedophile Serob Ter-Poghosyan, the speaker stated that after his criminal case S. Ter-Poghosyan was asked to leave the “Sagamar” company and was given the ore-mining factory of Akhtala instead. According to Silva Hambardzumyan, “Sagamar” was left to Russians at present. In Silva Hambardzumyan’s words it should be noted that such thing was done after Serob Ter-Poghosyan’s (he is accused in pedophilia) wife threatened to tell everything to media. In response to question of what particularly Madlen, Serob Ter-Poghosyan’s wife will unveil, Silva Hambardzumyan replied: “His wife has many things to say, she has lots of things to recall from 1999. She has kept that in secret to help her husband’s early release. She said, if they do not do that, I will tell everything to the journalists.” It should be stated that still several months back there was an article in 168 hours newspaper about how Serob Ter-Poghosyan’s wife has threatened to accumulate grave evidence from local and international newspaper once the lawsuit does not have a successful final and will publish it against the Akhtala ore-mining factory case, mine sell, corruption case evidence in which number of RA high officials are involved. Here everybody fancy about what Serob Ter-Poghosyan’s wife is going to disclose about 1999. It is known that the most criminal and violent event of 1999 was October 27 case. However, Silva Hambardzumyan is going to struggle to the end just to protect her rights. She is going to apply to European Court in order to receive back her 3.5 million USD investment in mines. After yesterday’s interview we called Serob Ter-Poghosyan and asked to clarify 168 hours’ questions:
– In 2008 you started to be interested in Lijkvaz-Tey Megri, and Terterasar mines in Syunik region, more clearly in «Sipan 1» LLC. What was the reason for you interest?
– First of all I would like to mention that my interest was first towards the laboratory of «Sipan 1» LLC. The lab equipment was in the selling process by «Iberian Resources» Australian Company in order to leave Armenia. In 2009 I asked my friend in abroad to come to Armenia and make investments here. They agreed and came to Armenia. They paid the money and boughed the «Sipan 1» Company. However, shortly after that Armen Movsisyan RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources recognized Lijkvaz-Tey mining license invalid. My international partner having made investments in the mentioned mine had a meeting with Karen Karapetyan, former head of Serzh Sargsyan’s working staff (he had assured my international partner that it was favorable to make investments in Armenia that time, which served an important stimulus to buy the Company), and finally was disappointed witnessing those stories which were beyond the legal circle. At that time I had to purchase the company to become the only owner of the mine. Meanwhile, let me mention that the director of “Iberian Resources” company Morris left the country in November 2008 as the Governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatryan had threatened him. Even more, his colleagues didn’t’ know anything about his escape. Only after Morris arrived to London his colleagues became aware that he had left the country.
– How did the Governor of Syunik province Suren Khachatryan threaten him?
– Suren Khachatryan threatened to kill him. He wondered who they are to come and become the owners of the mines in Syunik, etc.
– It means that the governor was already interested in the mine, isn’t it?
– Yes, he was. And as he didn’t manage to purchase it, he threw all possible obstacles in the way of “Sipan 1” company.
– Mainly what did he do?
– He told the Minister Armen Movsisyan about the mine and offered to jointly obtain it and work together. Afterwards, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA Armen Movsisyan repealed the license of “Sipan-1” gold mining company. It was the Governor’s initiative as A. Movsisyan even didn’t know the place of the mine. Let me mention that in March 2009 I purchased the “Sipan 1” company, the owner of the Litchkvaz-Tey and Terterasar gold and copper mines. I received the Minister’s decision to repeal the license of “Sipan 1” in April 2009 via e-mail. We hadn’t been aware before. Of course, we claimed against the decision of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan. When we received the verdict of the Court of Cassation, Minister A.Movsisyan declared that Litchkvaz-Tey will be given to another company. Then he put the Litchkvaz-Tey gold mine up for auction. To make it clear, the auction started before the minister’s declaration. Nevertheless, the mine was illegally obtained by the “Sagamar” Company. The auction was held when the property of “Sipan 1” was still a matter of judicial processes. It was illegal to hold any auction unless the court announced its verdict. The most interesting is the fact that we have received the verdict of the Court of First Instance only last month, that is in October. Can you imagine the situation? We have taken the matter to the Court of Cassation but we are sure that our claim will not be satisfied. And we claim to nullify the abovementioned order of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of the RA Armen Movsesyan. Let me also mention the fact that Prime Minister of the RA Tigran Sargsyan was the chair of the auction committee, and he didn’t participate in the auction in the end. As a result the mine was obtained by the “Sagamar” Company. One of the shareholders of the company is Serop Ter-Poghossian, former adviser to Tigran Sargsyan, the Prime Minister of the RA. Nowadays he is mired in the pedophilia scandal.
“Sagamar” purchased the Litchkvaz-Tey gold mine at the ridiculously low price of 198 million AMD. But my expenses were not included in this sum.
– It means that the circle of those who are interested in the mine is enlarged, isn’t it?
– I do think so. The Prime Minister of the country was the head of the auction; his former advisor is among the shareholders of “Sagamar” Company. It means that besides Surik Khachatryan and Minister Armen Movsesyan, the number of those who are interested in the mine has been constantly growing. Afterwards, the head of the presidential oversight service Hovik Hovsepyan who used to speak on behalf of presidential palace in the courts appeared from behind.
– By the way your so called sudden occurrence in mining sphere was mostly speaking of slight resources Lijkvaz-Tey. Only after your interest the passions stared to evoke. What is the reason of such activeness and did the mine resources increase?
– You know, whatever business I have stared in Armenia, everybody stared to do the same after me. I think this case is not an exception either, and they think that if Silva has taken that mine, it is a real good one, and they need to take it from her. As a business lady I was still known since 1990’s. In those years I was the first person who imported sugar, flour, wheat and egg and I never had any intension of further profit. That time I had a vodka factory in Moscow and had no profit plans from Armenia. My interest towards Armenia was to establish an industry. That served another reason when I bought Yeritsyan bread factory from VTB Bank (belonging to Albert Yeritsyan former head of Arabkir district, which was mortgaged in the bank, M. M.), as well as “Sipan 1” Company.
– Aren’t you concerned about that mines will finally be grasped from you?
– If there is a Law in the Republish of Armenia, than I am sure that – no. In the same time I think that RA President Serzh Sargsyan will never admit such illegal actions.
– Nevertheless, it is interesting how Syunik Governor managed to get your company equipments?
– There were lots of equipments missing from “Sipan 1” Company. In 2009 we applied to Prosecutor’s General Office of the Republic of Armenia, in order to inspect the basic robbery in the Company. In the result of check-ups it was found out that some of the equipments belonging to our Company, that is to say the 102 million AMD property is in Suren Kachatrayn’s factory right now. It should be noted also that the later has purchased around 240 million AMD properties costing 15 million USD from «Sipan 1», but the one costing 102 million AMD was not found in the mentioned list. The Governor had taken them away, and now they are in stage of preparing documents to take the property back.
– Do you mean to say that Syunik Governor has robbed your property?
– At the moment my 102 million AMD property is in Geghva Dzor mine, which belongs to Suren Khachatrayn, and is under exploitation. We have informed the law enforcement authorities about that, but so far there is no change. So far we never received a single response.
– Have you told the Governor about the robbery?
– I have talked to the Governor, he told the following: «In any case I am not going to return it to you, but if it is you- I’ll give you 100 thousand USD only. » Certainly, I refused. He was only proposing me 100 thousand USD against the property costing 300 thousand USD. I am still waiting for its solution till today.
– By the way, have you tried to meet the RA Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsesyan?
– I knew the Minister and I we were in very good relationships with each other. I wonder how he never managed to meet me, and especially when we both were from Zangezur. And he had delivered the RA President that there were no workers at the mine and no investments was ever made there. Can imagine what a lie was told to the President? My purpose is to help my citizens and I feel sorry for being in such condition today. My only wish is not to be disturbed. All in all I have never been interested in politics, and especially appearing in that sphere.
– How finally will the factory issue be solved?
– I hope that the issue will find its solution; otherwise I am going to apply to the European Court. I am hopefully looking forward the President’s fair solution. In any case then recent reforms speak of my true hopes.