A charitable foundation run by Gagik Tsarukyan purchased large plots of land on Mt. Hatis recently at rock bottom prices where the businessman wants to erect a huge statue of Jesus Christ.

Hetq has found out that in May-June 2022, around 140 hectares of land located in the Kotayk communities of Akunk, Hatis and Zovashen were sold to the foundation.

Here are some of the land sales. A 20-hectare plot of land in Akunk was sold for 1.6 million drams ($3,900). In the same community, a plot of 19.7 hectares was sold for 1.576 million drams. Another 17 hectares was sold for 5.740 million drams A 20 hectare plot another plot was sold to the foundation for 7.9 million drams.

Akunk Mayor Hunan Rubenyan told Hetq that only Tsarukyan’s foundation participated in the land auctions. He said the idea to build the statue on Mt Hatis is “magnificent” and will spur development in the region and the entire country.

Rubenyan said he climbed Mt. Hatis as a child and only the ruins of certain historical sites remain. He said construction of the statue would not disturb these sites.

The mayor confirmed that a road leading to the mountain top had been “improved” but that was done to allow cars to travel to yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony. 

Rubenyan said the land was sold to Tsarukyan’s foundation at recorded taxable values set by the Land Registry Office.