Recently, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan met with the biggest taxpayers. What they have agreed to I do not knwo. God grant these big ones decide, finally, to pay taxes, which, to tell the truth, I very much doubt. But, here, I want to turn your attention to the fact who were Armenia’s biggest businesses. You probably would not be surprised that 90 % of them are the Deputies of the National Assembly. “But how, you might ask? The businesses and deputation are restricted by the law, aren’t they?” Although I am sure that you know very well that people in Armenia obtain power to get rich, and vice versa, are getting rich to obtain chairs and seats. It is completely a different world with which we, ordinary mortals, have nothing to do. But to talk about combating corruption and sponsorship under these circumstances (it seems, they are not even talking any more), to put it mildly, is very difficult. “We are not businessmen, we are owners, say businesmen MPs and businessmen ministers, and our relatives deal with the businesses.” So, when they meet with the Prime Minister, they are the big businesses, and when answering the questions by journalists, they are husbands and grooms of the big businesses. Well, with this faith we will probably continue living. There is really nothing bad in being in businesses. Moreover, for instances, I do not think that our oligarchs are some stupid and talentless phenomena that are not capable of creating values. They certainly have entrepreneurial skills while they are engaged in looting for the sole reason that they are allowed to come close to the executive and legislative authorities. Corruption schemes are generating right here. And “we are only owners” fig leaf does not help. In this matter, we should follow the example of Russia. More specifically, Russian President Putin, who recently has signed a decree, which …allows the Crimean officials be involved in business and avoid submitting declarations about their revenues until January 1, next year. In other words, since these people have contributed to the unification of Russia and the Crimea, they as a “bonus” are granted the opportunity to loot openly for a few months. Not being covered by a fig leaf as it is done in Russia and Armenia.
ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
