Kristine Aghalaryan
Grisha Balasanyan 

While there are 32 importers of food fish in Armenia, two corner 80% of the market.

Not surprisingly, the food fish giants in question, Mkhchyan Fish Food and  Sagati/Sagati Fish and are owned by top ranking government officials.

Mkhchyan Fish Food is wholly owned by former Armenian MP Henrik Abrahamyan, brtother of National Assembly president Hovik Abrahamyan.

The company is registered in the Abrahamyan family native village of Mkhchyan, hence the name.

We should note that Hovik Abrahamyan and his in-law, Prosperous Party leader Gagik Tsaroukyan, run a huge fish farm in the Ararat community of Zorak.

Hovik Abrahamyan’s other brothers also run a fish farm in Mkhchyan, and the imported food not only serves their needs but there’s enough left over to sell.

Sagati and Sagati Fish were founded by the same individuals – Tariel Barseghyan, Garik Aloyan and Alvina Grigoryan.

Tariel Barseghyan served as the president of the RA Supreme Court and now heads the Civil Law Department at Yerevan State University. He is also a member of the Council of Justice.

But it’s his son Tigran, Deputy President of the State Revenue Committee, which deals with the daily running on the family fish farm and food importation.

Garik Sloyan and Tariel Barseghyan registered another company this July, called Veneri LLC, which also imports fish food.

Photo: Tigran Barseghyan, Hovik Abrahamyan