Pashinyan: Dilijan school project is linked to offshore scandal
Following the authorities' comments on the controversial project to build an international school in Armenia's resort town Dilijan, opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan concluded that the project has direct connection with the offshore scandal.
Pashinyan has got the impression that philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan will not start the project unless it is granted certain tax and customs allowances. "Didn't the Russia-based philanthropist study our tax and customs system before decided to open a school in Armenia?" he said.
The MP stressed that Vardanyan had never spoken about any allowances before the press reports linking Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and and Archbishop Navasard Kjoyan to dubious off-shore transactions. "A question rises here - what has changed? One thing is clear, with the blessing of Kjoyan and participation of Sargsyan a certain Ashot Sukiasyan has reportedly swindled the President of AmeriaBank, Ruben Vardanyan, out of $ 10 mln. The name of the bank is linked to the offshore scandal as the bank has transferred loans to an off-shore company."
Pashinyan says the philanthropist ran out of patience after Hetq online published an article about the well-known offshore scandal. "It turns out that both the bank and its president were stripped of their assets. The events later began to develop at a terrific speed making the Armenian government and parliament to put the bill to the vote."
The opposition MP says he is going to vote against the bill as does not want the Armenian people to pay for the seizure of assets under the blessing of Prime Minister and Archbishop Kjoyan.
In conclusion, Pashinyan said the authorities are doing their utmost to earn back Vardanyan's trust, as he has a good reputation and name in the international arena.
