Already the former official representative of “Samsung”, Andranik Shahbazyan, in the conversation with “Aravot”, explains why the globally recognized “Samsung” is leaving Armenia. “Everything was going right until the end of 2014, when the “Samsung” General management decided to set up an independent Caucasus HQ, which would be a part of the large headquarters of the “Samsung” in the CIS territory, and is was decided that it should be in Baku.” To the question of “Aravot” whether the Armenian representation of “Samsung” has felt a discrimination approach, Mr. Shahbazyan said, “I will tell you an incident. We supported a Company in Stepanakert to replenish its selling-shop that was directly cooperating with “Samsung” and was selling the official products of the “Samsung”. “Samsung” company representative, who was an ethnic Korean, visited Armenia and we took him to Karabakh, he saw and gave his approval, we organized the opening with a great fanfare, in short, we implemented the project with a great success. And, when the plans for moving the leadership of “Samsung” to Azerbaijan, the Korean leader of the Azerbaijani Office said that the “Samsung” signboard on the store should be taken out, as materials have been appeared in the Azeri media saying that “Samsung” has an official representation in Stepanakert. I said that I’m not going to take the signboard out. I have not done it of my own accord and without letting them know, it is an approved project. It is against my moral and, in general, the business principles. And this came to prove that, although the leadership in Baku is a Korean, but the two Koreans cannot but to fall under the influence of lobbying by the remaining fifty Azerbaijani employees of the representation.”
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
