Tsarukyan and His Circle Were Part of 'Roberto's' Ownership

In recent days, the foreign company that privatized Ararat Cement LLC in 2002 has become a widely discussed topic. The company in question is the Belgian 'Roberto', which was sold the shares belonging to the state in a decision by the government of Andranik Margaryan (Decision No. 1465-A dated 09.12.2002). The sale price was set at $200,000; however, the buyer, according to the executive’s decision, was obliged to relieve 'HayRusGazar' Ltd. of debts amounting to $6.866 million for gas supplies from the 'Itera' international energy corporation within three days after signing the purchase agreement.

According to Hetq, 'Roberto' also took on the repayment of 'HayRusGazard's debts. Now, let’s understand what the Belgian company 'Roberto' is, which became the owner of a large Armenian cement enterprise in 2002. Official documents published in 'Belgisch Staatsblad' (the Belgian official journal), indicate that 'Roberto' LLC was founded on May 25, 1997, and registered on June 3. The company is registered in Jette, which, along with 18 other municipalities, forms the Brussels metropolitan area. Over time, the LLC has changed its address three times, but these changes have all occurred within Jette's limits.

The founders of 'Roberto' were Armenian citizens Azat, Robert, and Roman Muradyan, each holding a share of 250,000 Belgian francs (at that time the euro had not yet been introduced). This means the company's total capital was 750,000 francs (equivalent to €18,592). Vahagn Guloyan was appointed as the manager of the LLC, who, according to the documents, was a resident of Oudenaarde, Belgium. V. Guloyan is an Armenian citizen, registered in the village of Arinj in Kotayk Province, and is the younger brother of former MP Murad Guloyan, who is related to Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party.

The areas of activity for the Belgian company have been varied, including the import and export of food products, goods, raw materials, semi-finished products, wholesale and retail trade, and the operation of commercial spaces (such as supermarkets and public catering enterprises) as well as services in all sectors of trade and industry. The charter indicates that the company can carry out this activity both in Belgium and beyond, through itself or third parties. In February 1998, additional sectors were added to the above, such as operating a laundromat, a gas station, importing and exporting vehicles, automotive maintenance, trading in jewelry and works of art, and textile production.

Shortly after the company's establishment, in October of the same year, V. Guloyan was recorded as an unpaid (public service) manager, but he was replaced in November by Robert Muradyan, presumably after whom the company is named. In December 1998, another change occurred; R. Muradyan left the manager position, and it was taken up again by V. Guloyan. By another decision, Jurgen Gaston Jean De Clercq, a resident of Oudenaarde, became an active partner in the LLC. In March 1999, V. Guloyan was replaced as manager by De Clercq (appointed as 'non-statutory manager'). However, De Clercq authorized Guloyan to conduct financial transactions on behalf of the company.

Six months after the Armenian government's decision to privatize 'Ararat Cement', on March 23, 2003, 'Roberto' LLC’s meeting decided to appoint Gagik Tsarukyan as the sole manager of the company without a time limit. At the same time, V. Guloyan was relieved of his authorized representative duties.

However, on June 26, 2003, the Brussels court announced the dissolution process of 'Roberto', appointing a liquidation manager to verify the company's assets and carry out the necessary operations mandated by legislation, finally reporting back to the court on the conclusion of proceedings. More than five years later, on December 18, 2008, the court announced that the dissolution process of 'Roberto' LLC had been completed. It turns out that the Belgian company, which had a brief and superficial existence after the privatization of 'Ararat Cement', was at the time merely a means to give the impression of a foreign investor in Armenia or simply to conceal the real names of the factory's new owners.

In this context, it is interesting to note the statement released by 'Ararat Cement' LLC, which specifically mentions: 'It was only months after the privatization of 'Ararat Cement' factory by 'Roberto' company that Gagik Tsarukyan acquired 25% of the shares, and later, in 2006, he purchased the remaining 75%.' It’s worth mentioning that in the declarations submitted to the Central Electoral Commission prior to the last two parliamentary elections (in 2017 and 2018), the candidate G. Tsarukyan did not state that he has direct involvement in 'Ararat Cement', thus indicating he is not a direct shareholder of the LLC. On the other hand, the website of the Multi Group Holding, owned by Tsarukyan, states that the factory was privatized by the holding in 2002. Thirdly, the involvement of Tsarukyan and his circle in 'Roberto' clarifies that the businessman was initially involved in the privatization process.

Source: hetq.am