`Oligarch’ Confirms Another Disputed Takeover
05.03.2010

Sargis Harutyunyan
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Ruben Hayrapetian, a government-linked wealthy entrepreneur, confirmed
on Friday that he has become the owner of yet another company claimed
by the embattled family of a fellow businessman supporting the
Armenian opposition.

Hayrapetian told RFE/RL that he has purchased a controlling stake in
the Byuregh mineral water plant from two little-known businessmen. One
of them, Gor Davtian, is the main witness in a controversial criminal
case brought against a younger brother of opposition-linked tycoon
Khachatur Sukiasian.

Saribek Sukiasian was detained on February 12 in a police raid on the
Yerevan headquarters of the Sukiasian family’s SIL Concern group and
held in police custody for three days. He was subsequently charged
with illegally keeping Davtian in the SIL offices.

The police claim he tried to force Davtian to sign fake documents
relating to Byuregh’s ownership. Sukiasian strongly denies the
accusation, saying that it is part of a broader government vendetta
waged against his exiled brother.

The Sukiasians bought almost 86 percent of Byuregh from Davtian and
the other shareholder, Robert Harutiunian, in late 2008. An Armenian
court annulled the deal last November.

According to Saribek Sukiasian’s lawyers, the two sides were close to
signing another takeover agreement in the weeks leading up to the
police inquiry. They say Davtian visited the SIL headquarters on
February 12 to ask Sukiasian for protection against Hayrapetian, who
allegedly used threats to warn him against selling his Byuregh shares
to Sukiasian.

`The criminal proceedings against Saribek Sukiasian made things easier
for them,’ one of the lawyers, Lusine Sahakian, insisted on Friday,
referring to the Armenian authorities. `They wanted to make sure they
can keep Gor Davtian under their control.’

Sahakian said Hayrapetian, who heads the Armenian Football Federation
and is a staunch backer of President Serzh Sarkisian, formalized the
Byuregh takeover on February 22, ten days after Sukiasian’s arrest.

Hayrapetian confirmed the information when contacted by RFE/RL’s
Armenian service. But he insisted that he did not coerce any of the
shareholders into selling their shares to him.

Neither man has been available for comment. Davtian’s whereabouts have
been unknown ever since the launch of the criminal proceedings against
Sukiasian.

Hayrapetian angrily denied any role in Sukiasian’s prosecution. `I’m
going to make more acquisitions,’ he added without elaboration.

The pro-government tycoon already acquired late last year another
water plant that was owned by the Sukiasians until being confiscated
by the Armenian government. Tax officials raided the Bjni company and
accused it of large-scale tax evasion shortly after Khachatur
Sukiasian publicly voiced support for opposition Levon Ter-Petrosian
in September 2007.