Edik Baghdasaryan advises ex-minister to cleanse his misdeeds
Vardan Ayvazyan, a lawmaker of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK), says he does not have any property in America that will enable him to recover the $37.5 million fine levied on him by a New York court.
"If they find that I have property in the US, they can take it," says Ayvazyan.
On September 5, 2012, the U.S. Southern District Court of New York ruled that Vardan Ayvazyan must pay $37,537,978 to Global Gold Mining LLC. The Company had sued Mr. Ayvazyan, the then Minister of Nature Protection, for exerting undue pressure on one of its subsidiaries that was the license holder for the Hankavan mine in Armenia.
The Court ordered the U.S. Marshall of the same district to seize the cattle belonging to Ayvazyan and give them to Global Gold Mining as compensation.
"I have one-two cows. Maybe I would give them," says the HHK MP.
The ex-minister read about the court ruling on the Internet: Hetq.am was the first to publish the news.
"My son works with Global Gold Mining LLC. He draws environmental reports and took interest in the ruling of the New York Court," said Edik Baghdasaryan, Editor-in-chief of Hetq Online.
Mr. Baghdasaryan says he has been interested in mining issues since 2000 when his son was only 13. Edik Baghdasaryan states that after becoming minister, Vardan Ayvazyan privatized about 14 mines in the name of his family members.
"After becoming MP, Mr. Ayvazyan started selling these mines. The last deal he concluded with Chinese when he sold three mines in Hrazdan, Abovyan and Svarants. The last one was sold at $ 24 mln in cash," said the chief editor.
Mr. Baghdasaryan calls on the Republican MP to cleanse his misdeeds. He does not want to speak anything about Ayvazyan's son as yet.
