"Prosperous Armenia"?!?!
I read some interesting news on RFE/RL about a new political party being set up by - Dodi Gago, the super rich oligarch - called "Prosperous Armenia". He has a very interesting background, getting his start after winning an arm-wrestling prize of I hear $100,000 and starting his business off with that. Now he owns Multi-Group and Kotayk Brewery and a slew of other things, and drives around in a huge Hummer. If there weren't so many stories about less than honest business practices (it seems his $100,000 may not have turned into presumably tens of millions without some questionable dealings) and more worrisome than that the fact that he is paying so little in taxes (see Multi-Leo on the list of taxpayers) I'd be a lot happier about this news. The things I do like about the guy is that he does actually run a lot of production in Armenia, rather than just monopolizing the import of one thing or anther, and he does give some money to charity... In any case, it gets stranger. Gago is very tight with the President, who has been vocally hated by Victor Dallakyan, who is now looking likely to run his new party.
I'm not a big follower of Armenian politics, but things definitely look set to become more interesting... Read all about it here.
I'm not a big follower of Armenian politics, but things definitely look set to become more interesting... Read all about it here.
posted by Raffi K. at 4:17 AM
12 Comments:
I don't blame him for paying little taxes. If someone can get away with paying less taxes then s/he will do it.
Shady deals are part of the business world. Again, if one can get away with it, s/he will do it.
If Dodi Gago wasn't creating jobs & being charitable I'd be irked that he wasn't paying taxes, but correct me if I'm wrong but he does A LOT more than other successful entrepreneurs who are also driving around in Hummers and other flashy cars.
The thought of him setting up a political party however did elicit a chuckle though, because I couldn't help drawing a parallel between California's former bodybuilder governor and a former armwrestling Dodi Gago turned politician, but I guess it's not such a far reach since he does for the village areas surrounding his compound/vank... arten he's kind of like a mayoral figure for those people. Nothing goes in those villages unless he gives his ok.
http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/0505-tec.html
http://www.hetq.am/eng/society/0411-nikol.html
This story shows one thing: How spineless the opposition in Armenia is. Someone like Dallakian who had declared Kocharian and oligarchs his number one enemy will probably lead the party founded by an oligarch. It's a good thing this opposition has no chance to oust Kocharian. Because they would sell Armenia at any price.
The only good one could have been Raffi Hovhannissian. But he totally blew it by the ridiculous things he did after the constitutional referendum.
He doesn't stand a chance even to be elected as an MP anymore. What a shame.
Well, it's easier to not see the political realities from outside. If you've got the balls to get involved, get up and go to Armenia, and get involved, as opposed to offering your two cents, that pretty much amounts to just that, two cent, from your cushy seat where ever you may be living.
and no, i don't live in armenia. i'm just visiting right now, and i don't have any pretenses about politics here, so don't tell me to move there. i have no opinion. you, armen sinanian, on the other hand, seem to be keeping write ups in your bible on things armenian.
again, WHATEVER...
Andre Simon, you can write pages and pages but it simply has no meaning neither constructive nor destructive. Your little "commentaries" are exactly how you describe them: WHATEVER.
I would advice you not to tire your hands or fingers typing, instead be happy with reading learning and informing yourself, and perhaps one day you will be ready to write something minutely useful on these pages.
Until then... you simply remain a useless WHATEVER. Not to be taken seriously and a little amusement for me.
Sinanian, Adre Simon asked you a legitimate question which you don't want to anwer. Indeed, why don't you move to Armenia? Hardline nationalists usually live in countries which they claim to love more than others. And yet dashnak-type diasporans like you prefer to live outside Armenia. I wonder why...
hovsepian, It is absolutely none of your business where I am today or where I am tomorrow. As a citizen of the Republic of Armenia I am a part of the future of Armenia. I am also not a narrow-minded villain like you which excludes Armenians because of party affiliation or place of residence. The new constitution with double citizenship will silence exactly your type which is the old Soviet leftover creatures still disgusted at the thought that the Tricolor is the flag of Armenia (for example...)
Your prejudiced mind might not even accept Dashnaks as Armenians, but at least two out of 4 Dashnak ministers in government David Lokian and Aghvan Vartanian are the most productive and hard-working members of the government. And even though I'm not a Dashnaktsagan the party's work should be commended.
As in any other country, citizenship holders of a country even if they reside anywhere in the world are part of the democratic process nation-building and future of that country. So, do you even have Armenian citizenship??
Of course I have Armenian citizenship. I was born and live in Armenia and don't plan to leave it or get a second passport whether or not the Armenian constitution allows that. I'm therefore more informed about developments in this country, more qualified to judge challenges facing it and much less obsessed with nationalist b/s. I see and think about real Armenia with its real problems, and have no illusions about its ability to develop with closed borders and without democracy. I will be the one who will risk his ass in case of another war, not you.
And why are you so reluctant to tell us why you don't want to live in Armenia? Is it such a bad and hopeless place? If so, why don't you get over here and make it better with your beloved dashnaks, Kocharian and Dodi Gago?
hovsepian,
Your comments stink of hatred and a lot of it. And when you have so much hatred in you , you harm only one person: yourself.
You are regrettably making judgements based also on hatred frustration and again hatred.
You fit exactly into the prototype of Diaspora-hating, Aparantsee-gloox know-it-all (yet know nothing) "Armenian". I'll remind you that HHSh times are over since 1998.
One more reminder to you: I have the very same rights as you to have my opinion about Armenia wherever I live in the world.For your type it will be difficult to accept that fact: but get used to it, it's true. I could be your boss one day, your landlord even your president, in one word, gone are the days when your type of arrogance dictates who is Armenian and who isn't. What's expected of you is obedience and to do your job well whether your boss is a Diasporan Armenian or a Karabaghtsee a Dashnak or an Orinats Yerkir. I am sure you will make the effort baronik Hovsepyan.
You better get used to new realities. Or else everyday will be a fight of acceptance for you in the new Armenia that's gradually being built.
Ok - enough!
It could be interpreted in a way that Dodi Gago "run a lot of production in Armenia, rather than just monopolizing the import of one thing or anther, and he does give some money to charity..." But it also could be interpreted in another way.
Main part of Gago's money comes from monopolized market of gas (natural gas) car fueling stations (main part of business cards use gas, not petrol, which more expensive), import of grain (also monopoly under patronage of government).
Gago's famous deals were forcing (with support of government) another oligarch (Grzo who use to do its business under protection of well-known Vano Siradegyan) to sell him biggest beer factory and purchase of Zvartnots airport's supply services (supplying Armenian Airlines with food and other services). That was his way to oligarchy.
Of course, he created jobs, as any oligarch does. Of course, he does some charity - any politician does it. But, how good is to have a oligarch-politician who make his money due to good ties with government (i.e. corruption)? And finally, what kind of political program could that kind of political figure has?
Cheers.
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