Armenian prime minister orders scrutiny of Tsarukyan’s charitable activity
YEREVAN, February 16. /ARKA/. Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan
ordered today a scrutiny of the charitable activity of Gagik Tsarukyan,
leader of Prosperous Armenia party.
The order was prompted by rumors going around that Tsarukyan evades
taxes under color of charity.
David Harutyunyan, minister-head of the government staff, sent an
appropriate message to Gagik Khachatryan, finance minister, Gohar
Poghosyan, press secretary of the prime minister, told ARKA News
Agency on Monday.
Speaking at a Thursday meeting of the executive board of the ruling
Republican Party of Armenia President Sargsyan lashed out at his
former coalition partner describing him as ‘a scourge for the country
who lacks intelligence, skills and education to govern Armenia.’
Sargsyan told Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to instruct corresponding
bodies to thoroughly investigate the veracity of “unverified reports”
implicating Tsarukyan in large-scale tax evasion.
In retaliation to Sargsyan’s crackdown, the leader of the Prosperous
Armenia Party said the following day that the current situation in
the country requires solution and ‘the only solution is a complete
change of power through extraordinary presidential elections.’
Gagik Tsarukyan said also he was offered the post of president of
the country but only after constitutional reforms that would turn
Armenia into a parliamentary republic.
He claimed that the reform is aimed at enabling Sargsyan to stay in
power after the end of his second and final presidential term in 2018.
Tsarukyan said he declined the offer causing Sargsyan’s anger.
Prosperous Armenia is the second largest force in the parliament
controlling 36 seats. It was part of coalition governments from 2007
to 2012. According to some estimates, Tsarukyan is the third-richest
person of Armenia. On February 20, the party and its key allies,
the Armenian National Congress and Heritage, plan to hold a joint
rally in Yerevan to press for Sargsyan’s ouster. —0—-