You Shouldn't Be Afraid of Tsarukyan: Statement

Head of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan, has issued a statement. Below, we present the full statement:

“Dear compatriots, beloved Armenian people,

I had planned a large press conference to directly answer all the questions. Many questions have accumulated that need to be addressed, and I wanted to give the most sincere answers.

Unfortunately, life had its adjustments, and as you know, due to the virus, I have health issues, and I am under the care of doctors and do not have the opportunity to interact with a large audience.

Therefore, I decided to present at least part of what I have to say in this way.

What prompted my speech on June 5, and was I aware that a campaign would be launched against me afterwards? My entire speech was an expression of a person who is greatly concerned about the current situation in the country. I have reasonable doubts that the government does not realize the real scale of the problems. It does not understand that we will soon have 200-300 thousand new unemployed, that tens of thousands of businesses are closing, that entire sectors of business are going bankrupt, and that if we do not save them today, it will be impossible to restore them tomorrow.

In my opinion, the government does not fully understand that several tens of thousands of our compatriots who go to Russia for work may not have that opportunity this year, and therefore, will not have means to support their families. Problems are arising, and have already arisen, in large businesses, and tens of thousands of people will face salary issues. A significant shortfall in budget revenues is very real, which may eventually affect the salaries and pensions of budgetary system employees and other state obligations.

My speech was entirely a call to sound the alarm on these issues, a warning that serious work must be done now, that time cannot be lost, as tomorrow it will be too late.

Did I realize that the government’s reaction would include initiating criminal cases, attempts to detain me and my associates? I considered that one of the possible reactions of the government, but I also thought that perhaps my warning would reach the right people and the government would respond by finding other solutions, engaging in consultations, discussions.

It is said that the government is afraid of Tsarukyan and that is why the campaign against him has begun. You should not be afraid of Tsarukyan; you should be afraid of the hundreds of thousands of people left without jobs, without salaries. You should fear the parent who cannot afford food, clothing, or medicine for their child. You should fear the tens of thousands of people losing their homes due to interest rates in banks. You should fear those who have lost hope, those who have no means of livelihood, and the tens of thousands of small and medium entrepreneurs who have gone bankrupt. This is truly frightening.

I have often been a balancing, mitigating bridge between large masses in deep social tension and the government through my political activities.

Today, dear people, my goal is to present the situation to you honestly. Any sensible government that stands on the threshold of a social crisis would not organize a show for the people – staging all this to bring about the detention of Tsarukyan, but rather use Tsarukyan's abilities and connections for the development of our state, ensuring tomorrow for the same people.

Now, all over the world, powers are being counted, non-existent powers are being created, while they are destroying the existing powers.

It is said that I present reality in pessimistic colors, that everything is not so bad. If economists with several university degrees or newly appointed officials sitting in soft offices calmly say that there can be double-digit economic decline in Armenia, I personally interact with people every day and know their reality. I know that double-digit economic decline means half a million starving people who will have nothing left to lose. Homes, businesses, land – everything will be lost.

What is the state doing to prepare for the autumn harvest? After the pandemic, food security is an issue in all countries. If we fail to protect the autumn harvest, there will be nothing to eat in our country; everyone will keep food for themselves. Tomorrow, the grape harvest season is coming. Does the government know that the consumption of wine and brandy has decreased by 60-70%? The producing factories have neither money nor space for new purchases. Does the government understand what social tensions this will bring?

What have I done to improve the economy, create jobs? I have done everything in my power. I have done what no one else has done. Yet, numerous projects have been halted, canceled, or left unfinished in the last two years. Let me list the institutions and enterprises that the government has prevented from continuing, starting, operationalizing, and opening.

The construction of the Kempinski hotel in Yerevan has been suspended. It was an investment project with a representative of the Kuwaiti royal family, valued at over $100 million. The 'Armoyl' factory, which was supposed to provide work for the residents of Yeghvard and surrounding areas. Another major project was the “Arsilicium” factory, which was to be valued at nearly $1 billion and around 3000 jobs would arise from it. Due to artificial delays and obstacles, Arab investors have left disappointed. The cotton factory, which was a significant international project and highly promising, was supposed to provide hundreds of jobs. But the process has been artificially delayed for over a year now. The unprecedented social housing program in Abovyan offered around 2000 families an opportunity to acquire affordable housing. It was planned that by paying around 65,000 drams per month, a young family could become a homeowner. No such comprehensive social housing program has existed in Armenia. For over a year, everything has been stalled due to bureaucratic obstacles. These officials have stolen the dream of thousands of people to have homes at affordable conditions.

Which one should I enumerate? How can jobs be created? Through investments, how do people get homes? Through construction, how does the government pay more taxes? Through new factories, new enterprises. Now, the government interferes and obstructs in every way.

I do not understand these people.

It is said that I accuse the government of failing to combat the pandemic. The situation regarding the pandemic in Armenia is a disaster. It is shameful for this small country to have such a situation. Error after error has been committed. And if we have not yet reached a tragedy, it is solely due to the efforts of our doctors and part of the populace who are attentive, helping each other.

The Minister of Health finds joy in the campaign launched against me and my family; he has time to talk about this. You bear the responsibility for the hundreds of deaths that are not yet visible, and you still have time for cheap humor on Facebook? This is a completely different story.

At my instruction, a working group has been created in the party, which is individually gathering and analyzing the errors that have cost our people's health and lives. We do not know what this virus will lead to regarding people's health tomorrow. On youth, on young mothers. You should not let the feeling of guilt silence you, while you leisurely criticize Tsarukyan from warm offices.

It is said that there is justice in the country and that everything is fair now. Is justice the bonuses that the government writes out for itself, while the rest of the people have no bread? I will give the example of coronavirus: have you calculated how much it costs a person to be treated: for a teacher, a lecturer, a villager, how much does an average family pay? Have you calculated how much the tests cost, a tomography costs, medications cost? People take out loans, mortgage their properties to somehow recover from the virus, while the officials write themselves bonuses and are living splendidly. Is this justice?

Justice would be that tens of thousands of people recovering at home would be provided with medications, the other necessary tests by the state, and during the isolation phase, at least a minimal amount for food would be allocated. Justice would have been to have real support programs for closing small and medium businesses rather than wasting a large amount of money.

They ask why there are no investments in Armenia, and I spoke about this in my speech. Which investor would come to Armenia? Those who came were disregarded and left offended. The next one, seeing the criminal cases, the loosening of banking privacy laws, the rising property tax – why should they come and invest in Armenia and risk their capital? He will go to another country. Will major Russian capital, whether it be Armenian or foreign, come to Armenia if relations with Russia are tense? And is it not enough that you are now dragging Navalny into this? Who would come after that?

The new officials in the government do not adequately understand what the lack of investments means. Perhaps it needs to be explained that without investments, there will be no new jobs; without jobs, there will be no salaries; there will be no new revenue for the budget; there will be no development. And it will result in starving, hopeless hundreds of thousands of people.

It is said that this is the case in many countries and that it's not just Armenia's problem. They are right, but the countries that will get out of these situations are those that work in that direction, that unite, think critically and find solutions.

What I am saying is precisely this: we need to stop turning everyone against each other; incompetent officials should be replaced with knowledgeable ones, and action must be taken. The problems do not arise overnight. And let me not forget that not all countries are in semi-war situations, and not all countries have neighbors saying, ‘I will attack, I will invade.’

What do I propose? To get serious and work. To listen to advice, to heed the suggestions of others. To go out of the offices and interface with people. To regulate relations with allies. Whoever cannot work must leave.

What are my next steps? As soon as my health allows, the first step I will take is to hold a major press conference; there are many questions that must receive their answers. No question related to me should remain unanswered. My next step will be to appeal to reputable economists and management professionals in Armenia and the world to prepare anti-crisis solutions for Armenia. It is crucial to address the direct assistance issue for specific social groups. I must understand the resources available and create a targeted assistance program. We cannot leave people facing social and health tragedies.

I have already instructed my foundation regarding this. I have issued an order to develop large investment projects. To bring the country out of this situation, we need significant transformative projects with substantial capital that will immediately provide a vast number of people with work. I will negotiate with investors through my personal connections and authority. No assistance from the authorities is needed. It would be good if they deliberately do not interfere.

It is very important to work on Armenian-Russian relations, to try to smooth out misunderstandings and cold periods. This should be done through all channels. As the head of the largest opposition faction, as someone who has broad connections with Russian political, public, and business elite, I am obliged to do this. This is both a national security issue and a matter concerning potential investments and the everyday concerns of our hundreds of thousands of citizens.

So, there is much to be done, a lot, a lot. And most importantly, we must never be afraid of the scale of the problems, of the difficulties. When you know what needs to be done, envision it, set a problem, you can solve even the hardest issue.”

Along with the statement shared on Facebook, Gagik Tsarukyan wrote: “There is much to be done, a lot… And most importantly, we should never be afraid of the scale of the problems. When you know what needs to be done, envision it, set a problem, you can solve even the hardest issue.”