Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced during the election of prime minister in parliament in May 2018 that business and politics will stay separate. Meanwhile, the Civil Contract list includes businessmen Khachatur Sukiasyan and Gurgen Arsenyan.
During a briefing with reporters, My Step deputy Hrachya Hakobyan, upon the question of why Pashinyan changed his mind completely over the past three years, said, “I think that it is difficult to separate. For example, is Khachatur Sukiasyan a businessman or politician? There are four Sukiasyan brothers, and all of them have a business in a different sector. In addition, Khachatur Sukiasyan has a business that is, perhaps, given to govern. I do not know the details. But, in my opinion, Khachatur Sukiasyan has been a politician for much longer. He was even persecuted for his political beliefs as a result of the post-electoral processes on March 1, 2008. Khachatur Sukiasyan was one of the politicians who was persecuted for his political beliefs, but his brothers were persecuted by the authorities at that time as business owners. Therefore, in my opinion, it is difficult to say at the moment whether Khachatur Sukiasyan is a politician or businessman.”
When asked if Gagik Tsarukyan is a business owner or politician, Hrachya Hakobyan responded, “Gagik Tsarukyan once announced that he had businesses which he gave to govern, and at the moment, I cannot say whether he is a businessman or politician.”
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According to Hrachya Hakobyan, this parliament is different from the previous parliament. He confirmed that Khachatur Sukiasyan and Gurgen Arsenyan are included on the Civil Contract list. Therefore, reporters asked if it is possible for Samvel Aleksanyan to also be included. He responded, “I don’t think so. If it were possible, such discussions would have taken place. He said that he will only be involved in his businesses from here on out.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
