Tax audits of Tsarukyan businesses completed: No major violations found (video)
The checkups in six businesses owned by Gagik Tsarukyan, the former leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), have revealed no violations, Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan announced in the National Assembly on Monday. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan ordered in February a probe to verify reports claiming that embattled opposition leader has hidden huge amounts of money in taxes under the guise of charitable activities. The tax audits were conducted in six businesses belonging to the tycoon. Examination has not been conducted at Ararat Cement Factory CJSC. In reply to the observation whether we can say that Serzh Sargsyan publicly disseminated false information about tax evasion by the tycoon and now there is a political reconciliation, the minister said they had only been instructed to conduct checkups. “Serzh Sargsyan did not claim, he only said that it is necessary “to verify reports,”and we received a corresponding order, and found that there had not been major violations,” said the minister. Addressing senior members of his ruling Republican Party of Armenia in February, Serzh Sargsyan called Tsarukyan ‘an evil for the country.’ He also spoke about ‘unverified’ reports about tax evasion by the businessman and immediately dismissed Tsarukyan from the National Security Council and recommended that the National Assembly leadership consider grounds for stripping Tsarukyan of his parliamentary seat due to his absenteeism. In March, Tsarukyan resigned as BHK leader following the crackdown on him and on the party.
