WHICH POLITICAL FORCE WILL SUPPORT MIKHAIL BAGHDASAROV?

Lragir.am
03 April 06

Heading for the election 2007, more than the forces called political,
the big representatives of the economic sector are preparing for it.

Some of them already have set up political parties, others are just
setting up, yet there are others, who are likely to give financial
support to some political parties. The actions of these businessmen
are determined, not necessarily openly, by the concern to protect
their businesses and property.

In this connection, there is a fourth type of businessmen who do not
publicly do something that would allow accrediting them to the first
three types of oligarchs. Probably, the most vivid representative of
this fourth conventional type of oligarchs is Mikhail Baghdasarov.

According to the famous Western magazine Forbes, the turnover of
his companies totals 200 million dollars, but he not only confirms
figure offered by the Forbes, but also mentions that the turnover
may be over 200 million dollars.

But the owner of this turnover does not take part in the “great
movement” of oligarchs for the protection of their property. And
since he is one of the biggest businessmen of Armenia, the society
may wonder why he does not display a political compulsion to protect
himself. “There are several ways of protection, with a gun or by
supporting one political force or another, which is close to your
heart. It is not necessary to set up a political party,” says Mikhail
Baghdasarov. However, he does not say which party he is going to
support if he is not going to set up his own political party. He
explains this silence by the young age of our political parties,
which, except the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, are hardly
10 years old, and have not even made up their mind what to want or
what to choose. “We are now studying the conditions. Yesterday we
liked one party, today we like another party, tomorrow we may choose
yet another one. The political party that will develop the economy,
with actions and not words,” says Mikhail Baghdasaryan. He says when
something is done in Armenia, it is not spoken about.

“Therefore, many people think that here it is worse than elsewhere. But
it better to act and keep silent than to speak and not do anything. In
other words, when we have something, we do not keep it, we appreciate
it when we lose it,” says Mikhail Baghdasarov.

“Today so many political parties are set up, parties of sportsmen,
businessmen, law enforcement bodies, and one can hardly make head or
tail of it, but we will support those who want to develop economy,
science, sports,” says the president of Mika Limited. Gagik Tsarukyan
perfectly complies with these criteria; he set up the Prosperous
Armenia Party, owns big companies and the president of the National
Olympic Committee. Not denying Tsarukyan’s contribution to economy
and sport, Mikhail Baghdasarov, however, reminds that Tsarukyan is
not alone to support sport.