Starting from yesterday representatives of Armenia’s State Taxation Body launched inspection of the Bjni Company belonging to the Sukiasyan family. 5 employees of the factory were moved to the 6th department of the RA police with the condition that “still certain issues must be clarified.” Prior to that 7 out of the 14 delivery trucks were taken to the department during their daytime functioning. As of late last night 12 people of the factory were in the police department. To the question, “what are you planning to do?” the president of Sil Holding, Khachatur Sukiasyan responded, “Are we going to rebel or what? Shall we go fight them? Of course, it’s clear we will do our best to struggle in the framework of the law. I think they use the law only in cases, which they benefit from. Finally there are the rights of both of the sides. There is a taxpayer and state body. I think that the rights of the neither side must be violated.” By the way, it’s not yet known that none of the inspectors introduced himself yesterday.
According to the note of the head of the STS in the factory inspections are conducted in the purpose of “checking the correctness of the factory operation in the balance of state budget.” Among the inspectors was also the senior operative authorized representative from the 11th department of the Operative Investigation Bureau of RA, Karen Abgaryan and 7 other operative investigators. They were counting one by one the number of the Bjni mineral water bottled stored in the factory stock. They were unloading even the trucks, which were sent on a delivery. A little late the owner of the factory, Artur Khachatryan said that 7 out of the 14 delivery trucks were taken to the 6th department during their daytime functioning. There were representatives from the 6th department as well, whose presence wasn’t registered anywhere. One of them, who didn’t introduce himself said, “ask questions to the tax inspectors they will answer all of those.” To the question why they were present at the inspection scene he answered, “we are just invited.” When we asked the tax inspectors the same question they said that they are not aware of the presence of the representatives of the 6th department. By the way the actual number of the tax inspectors and investigators at the factory was more than what the STS order defined. We were not able to find out, who they actually were and why they hadn’t introduced themselves. The director of the factory A. Khachatryan said that the STS already conducted inspection on July 15. But none of the previous STS inspections were this strict. The factory has ceased its functioning because many of the STS inspectors said that they were going to take the computers of the factory with them for further survey. Later they said that they are taking with them not only the computers but also 5 of the employees for clarification of certain matters. The director said that the STS inspectors were not able to find any violations and he didn’t know why they wanted to take him to the police as well. “They said they wanted to take me for interrogation.” The person, who was in the same room, who later said not to ask him questions any more while “he is still calm,” corrected Khachatryan by saying that he is only invited to the police in order to help to “clarify certain matters.” He also hasn’t introduced himself. Even the director of the factory didn’t know who these people are till the last moment. “They don’t introduce themselves. What can I do?” said Khachatryan. The latter and the accountant refused to follow the investigators to the department till their attorneys would show up. After their attorneys arrived they were escorted to the 6th department but the attorneys were not let inside the building. In the evening it became clear that 12 of the employees of Bjni were in the 6th department. The founder of Sil Holding, owner of Bjni, NA MP Khachatur Sukiasyan is sure that those “total inspections” are connected with his political views. “I have chosen this direction realizing that well. I realize well that all hints, all conversations, the whole information that reaches me from different bodies is connected with this process. But that will not change anything. I will always be next to him, because I share the concerns that he raises,” Sukiasyan said. “I think this is something that the government doesn’t like. But I have my own approaches, because I want what is good for the future of my country, for the future of our children,” he added. Sukiasyan, who is one of the largest taxpayers in Armenia, says entrepreneurs work in unequal conditions today. He says the government lacks political will to bring them all into “an equal field” of taxation. According to Sukiasyan, through affiliation with the government “a person defends himself and his business and not an idea or a political decision that this system has advanced.” Sukiasyan hinted that some overtures once were made to try to “recruit” him, but he declined to disclose any details. We have also asked Sukiasyan what steps the First President is going to undertake the repression against him. As a response he said, “Frankly said, I wouldn’t like him to do anything. I should be more confident and stable. What can he do? All he can do is continue his politcal course.” To the question whether it is possible that Ter-Petrosyan will at least announce about this repression Sukiasyan said, “I don’t know. I haven’t spoken with him. I will even feel slightly uncomfortable when discussing this with him because the goal is not to get rid of the inspections but endorse Ter-Petrosyan. I should go till the end and will never give up.” To the question why he had to do so Sukiasyan said, “someone should have finally done this. Let someone else do this. Why not?” To the question whether there is a possibility that the government may “swallow” his businesses, Sukiasyan said, “Are we a kilo of meat to be swollen? Let them swallow. We will see who the winner is.” As of the businessmen colleagues of Sukiasyan, who haven’t joined Sukiasyan (at least they didn’t say it) Sukiasyan, “I respect all of my friends. I am always next to them whenever they need me. I always support them with open heart.” According to Sukiasyan none of the businessmen has ever come up with an intention to support him so far. “I think they secretly agree with Ter-Petrosyan’s approaches.” To our question, “if it’s possible to support secretly why don’t you do the same way?” Sukiasyan answered, “I have never hidden my sympathy to Ter-Petrosyan. I have openly said at any occasion that I follow his ideas and like him as a politician. I should have openly stood next to him.”