OLIGARCHS PAY TAXES AT THE EXPENSE OF TAXPAYERS RATHER
Aram Zakaryan

Lragir.am
10 Aug 06

We have already reported relying on the official statistics of 1000 big
taxpayers that the native oligarchs, operating in the black economy,
have started paying less taxes to the government, which means only
one thing – the guys are preparing for the election, the slush funds
are collected. And even a superficial study of the pattern of taxes
paid by the same oligarchs reveals that the oligarchs, who generally
pay very little taxes, a greater part of what they pay is from the
purse of the other taxpayers, i.e. common people, and only a small
part is from their own pockets.

The share of indirect taxes, namely the VAT and the excise tax,
included in the price of goods and services, prevails in the pattern
of taxes paid by all the oligarchs of Armenia. In other words, all
of us pay these taxes, which are included in the price of a product
or a service. In the meantime, direct taxes, such as income tax,
profit tax, are paid by the seller of the product or service.

First, there are companies which did not pay the VAT or the excise tax,
namely City Petrol importing gas to Armenia, and Pares Armenia.

At one time, Natali Pharm owned by Samvel Alexanyan, importing
medicine, did not pay the excise tax, whereas in the first half of
2006 this company paid 326.698 million drams of VAT and excise tax,
and then 4.5 times less income tax and profit tax, totaling 68.157
million. The sugar importing Fleetfood owned by Samvel Alexanyan
also paid part of its taxes at the expense of its customers. It
paid 261.608 million drams of VAT and excise tax and 7.8 times less,
37 million drams of income tax and profit tax.

The same situation is with the businesses run by Mikhail Baghdasarov,
referred to as a close oligarch of Serge Sargsyan. Mika Cement paid
244.827 drams of indirect taxes, and 0 drams from its own purse.

Armavia paid VAT and excise tax of 76.9 million drams and over three
times less direct taxes, 22.935 million drams.

The amount of VAT and excise tax paid by Gagik Tsarukyan’s Multi
Leon totaled 67.247 million drams, and the income tax and profit tax
was 2.585 million drams. Ararat Wine, Vodka and Brandy also paid 2.5
less direct taxes than indirect taxes. There is reliable information
that Jermuk Group owned by Republican Ashot Arsenyan, the sponsor of
unofficial leisure of Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan during his
foreign visits does favor and charity to the prime minister at the
expense of Jermuk drinkers. This company paid 189.504 million drams
of VAT and excise tax and 9 times less, 19.6 million drams of income
tax and profit tax. Another oligarch, new Republican Levon Sargsyan,
is also a miser when his own purse is concerned. His Yerevan Mill
paid 110.754 million drams of indirect taxes and only 5.8 million
drams or 20 times less from its own income and profit. His Vedi Alco
paid 216.186 million drams of indirect taxes and 21 times less, 9.690
million drams from its own income and profit. Getap Winery owned by
Levon Sargsyan paid 52.8 million drams of indirect taxes and 16-17
times less, 3.450 million drams from its own income and profit.

Artashes Tumanyan’s Mets Aniv, Mher Sedrakyan’s Erebuni Alco, Areg
Ghukasyan’s Salt Factory of Avan, Attorney General’s friend Lyova
Sargsyan’s Concern Energy, Shant + owned by another friend of Attorney
General’s, Lusakert Poultry Farm owned by Harutiun Pambukyan who became
Republican for the sake of Serge Sargsyan and other pro-governmental
oligarchs organize their companies and taxes similarly.