What follows is the statement sent to Hetq by Ashot Sukiasyan regarding yesterday article entitled “Cyprus Troika: Who “Stripped” Businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan of His Assets?”

The businessman basically argues that our information is “one-sided and distortion of the facts.” Sukiasyan has promised to answer any questions we might pose to him in the future.

Dear Hetq,

I read your one-sided article and was amazed. I understand when Paylak Hayrapetyan discredits me for he is a man who placed his property as collateral in a diamond business and has now lost it all. He lost it because his partners in Sierra Leone weren’t sincere in their dealings with me and literally pocketed the resources I sent. As a consequence, we weren’t able to service the loan obligations. Now, I am involved in court proceedings in Africa. Paylak Hayrapetyan is fully aware of this. I also know that Hayrapetyan is in cahoots with my opponents in Africa in order to punish and damage me. No matter, my stance regarding Hayrapetyan hasn’t changed and I will restore his losses.

Of course, it’s no secret that Paylak Hayrapetyan profited from this transaction. Some $860,000 of the first loan tranche of $1 million was used by him to cover his debts. The problem with the bank arose from this first loan tranche that was given on a term of one year.

What bothers me is the fact that Paylak Hayrapetyan is using Hetq to discredit such honorable individuals who have nothing to do with this transaction. If, as Hayrapetyan claims, the prime minister convened a meeting of businessmen in order to promote investment in Armenia and some encountered problems, then why blame the prime minister?

I had planned to make substantial investments in the fatherland; the opening of a school for young women and a foundation that would use the profits from the diamond operation to offer long-term non-interest housing loans to young couples.  Of course, I wanted to present this as a gift to our government and nation. Now, it wouldn’t be proper to speak of this, especially since the project has fallen through.

I state that Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Navasard Kjoyan have no connection to WLISPERA HOLDING LIMITED and to any of my business operations.

The information reported by Hetq does not correspond to reality.

Ashot Sukiasyan

(Photo – hraparak.am)