SIL GROUP CALLS FOR SUPPORT
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[06:43 pm] 31 October, 2008
Today SIL Group released a statement which runs in part:
On behalf of our staff and incorporated companies SIL Group Concern
condemns the authorities, namely the judicial authorities for political
retaliation on the Sukiasyan family.
In particular, they targeted at Bjni factory of mineral water,
Pares Armenia (official distributor of Philip Morris), the chain of
pizzerias Pizza de Roma, Sport Time (official distributor of Adidas),
Yerevan Mill, and Nor Shin.
These companies have sustained great losses. The arrest and
confiscation of the Bjni’s property resulted in the defaming of
company’s brands. Besides, 483 people became unemployed. As a company
which is aware of our shaky economy, we would like to note that in
the town of Charentsavan (where the factory is located) over 450
families were deprived of the source of income.
Now that the entire circulation is consolidated in the capital city,
a situation has emerged which will further aggravate the social and
economic state in Charentsavan. We do not think that the government
is unaware of this simple calculation.
The business of the Pares Armenia company was seized through the
customs committee, as due to the impossibility of supplying its
products to Armenia, Philip Morris had changed its partner. According
to some reliable sources, the new partner is Mr. Serzh Sargsyan’s
son-in-law.
They want to press the Sport Time Company (the distributor of Adidas)
in a similar way.
We condemn all those judges who were sworn in on the Constitution and
legislation but neglected these supreme acts. The division of powers
is set down in the Constitution but in our country all officials are
ruled by the president’s remote controller.
As a company with many years of experience, we condemn all the methods
and mechanisms aimed to destroy businesses.
The government has proved that all entrepreneurs who disobey
their rules of the game are punished severely through the tools of
arbitrariness.
We call upon all entrepreneurs to join in our initiative and
protect the Sukiasyan family, thus protecting all businessmen from
arbitrariness.