Transactions of Syunik Governor and Family Members: Hetq

Hetq writes that Syunik Governor Melikset Poghosyan purchased a bond in 2020, which was valued at 60 million drams by the end of the year. It remains unclear from whom M. Poghosyan bought this bond during the spread of coronavirus and in a wartime situation, and for what purpose. The governor did not disclose the details of the other party involved in the transaction in his declaration. He marked a dash in the relevant column, which the system accepted as data and validated his declaration, although that field was supposed to be filled in mandatory.

It is noted that a bond is a debt security that certifies the holder's right to receive the nominal value of the bond or other equivalent property from the issuer by the due date. The bond also entitles the holder to receive interest from the nominal value of the bond or other property rights.

Syunik Governor Melikset Poghosyan submitted a declaration of property, income, and interests to the Anti-Corruption Commission for 2020. M. Poghosyan was appointed to the position on December 8, 2020, but assumed office on December 9. The annual declarations of officials are just now being published by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The deadline for submitting declarations for 2020 was set for May 31, 2021.

According to the declaration, Melikset Poghosyan owns 7 units of real estate, including a private house, buildings, and land in the Goris community, as well as 2 parcels of land in the Tegh community. The governor has also declared 4 vehicles: TOYOTA, MITSUBISHI, URAL, and GAZ. The latter was acquired in 2020, while the other vehicles were obtained in 2013 and 2017.

Regarding cash assets, M. Poghosyan had 20 million drams in cash and approximately 1 million drams in bank accounts at the end of 2020. He declared as income a pension of 1 million 927 thousand drams received from the Ministry of Defense and remuneration of 1 million 72 thousand drams received from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and/or other equivalent payments. The governor did not declare his salary from the Syunik Provincial Administration for December 2020.

To get clarification, we called the Syunik Provincial Administration. A receptionist heard the question and then transferred it, saying that the governor was busy and could not talk.

Melikset Poghosyan's wife, Alvard Petrosyan, declared jointly owned property, an apartment in the Erebuni administrative district of Yerevan. In 2020, she purchased a 2012 TOYOTA vehicle. Alvard Petrosyan had 2 million drams in cash and 150 thousand drams in bank accounts. The only income declared by the governor's wife was a pension of 318 thousand drams.

Melikset Poghosyan's son, Karen Poghosyan, declared ownership of 10 units of real estate in the Goris community as sole owner. All the listed properties are public purpose buildings, except for one, which he purchased. One of the public purpose buildings was inherited. It turns out that 2020 was a favorable year for the governor's family members to acquire properties.

Karen Poghosyan also purchased 2 vehicles in that year: OPEL and TOYOTA. The governor's son had no money in his bank accounts, and he declared 30 million drams in cash. The annual income amounted to approximately 30 million 547 thousand drams, of which 30 million was declared as 'other income,' and 547 thousand drams as salary from 'Melik Barkhudar' LLC.

It is noted that 'Melik Barkhudar' LLC was established in 2003, according to state registry data. The company is the legal successor of the Goris supermarket and Goris market of the Armenian Consumer Cooperatives Union. Since 2010, the sole shareholder of the company has been the governor's son, Karen Poghosyan, who is also the director of the company. The charter capital of 'Melik Barkhudar' LLC is 11 million drams. According to data from the tax authority's information database, 'Melik Barkhudar' LLC is engaged in real estate rental activities.

Karen Poghosyan's wife, Lilia Mkrtchyan, works as a cashier in 'Melik Barkhudar' LLC, where she received an income of 372 thousand drams in 2020. She also received 1 million drams as 'other income' from the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. According to the declaration, the governor's daughter-in-law had 3 million drams in cash and 106 thousand drams in non-cash transactions. In return, she declared deposits made, which totaled 69 million 398 thousand drams at the end of the year.