Why Shushanik Nersisyan Was Dismissed from Her Position: 'Hraparak'

On June 8, Shushanik Nersisyan, Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), was dismissed from her position, and she currently has no engagement or offers for other positions. She stated, “Even if there are offers, I am not considering them at this moment.” The newspaper “Hraparak” interviewed her.

- It hasn't become clear why you were dismissed from your position.
- Should someone stay in the same position forever? These were personal issues.
- Was it related to the Chairman of the SRC?
- No, no, these were my personal issues… One day I should return, right?

- But you left unexpectedly, even after serving for 4 years, while others change quickly.
- I guess I worked well, that's why I stayed long.

- Have the authorities appreciated your work, Nikol Pashinyan or Rustam Badasyan?
- Of course, I worked in an atmosphere of utmost respect and it was very interesting.

- What have you left behind in the customs sector? There is both satisfaction and dissatisfaction regarding your work.
- Naturally, there should be dissatisfaction. When you make changes, not everyone—both business operators and employees—are always ready. The most important thing I’ve left behind is probably the trend towards digitizing customs, which I know is continuing now.

- But prior to you, the digitization process began before 2018, and a lot was done, such as the same terminals, “green path,” “red path.”
- The “green and red paths” are not the initiative of any leader, and it is a legally directed requirement that any customs service should have; it cannot be attributed to anyone. Now when you say that quite a lot has been done, what has been done? Are you aware?

- Yes, for example, they abolished the regulations, and you came and partially reinstated them.
- But we are talking about digitization, are we not? You ask me what I have left behind, and I talk about digitization. You say this existed already. Now I’m asking which one existed? That’s the most important thing because when you digitize, you ensure that the business operator no longer has to deal with the customs officer. That is the most critical aspect. And I know that the project I initiated is currently progressing seriously and will be implemented by the end of this year.

- Why is there no appointment for that position, how are they managing?
- I don’t know. How did they manage before me? They are managing the same way now. I believe Mr. Badasyan is fully capable of leading everything correctly as long as I have no successor.

- If it’s possible to manage without the Deputy Chairman of the SRC, what is the point of keeping that position?
- I think it would be right to direct that question to the Chairman of the SRC itself.

- It was mentioned that there is smuggling and corruption.
- Vahé, a lot is said about the newspaper “Hraparak” too. I don’t pay much attention to many questions because I believe that the changes in the lives of many business operators are evident. And yes, of course, there are problems in every area, and by solving those issues, we are moving forward. How do you envision it if you take a system full of various problems? Those entire issues need to be resolved somehow within 1 or 2 years with some magic wand… None of us has a magic wand. Those issues are not going to disappear; we must move forward by resolving those problems.

- Nikol Pashinyan said that he has it under control (from the podium of the National Assembly on June 7, 2018).
- What do you want me to respond to that statement?

- Well, do you maintain your connections with the authorities?
- I have very good friends in the current government, and yes, of course, I maintain my contact with them.

- It is often written that you have a close relationship with Nikol Pashinyan’s wife, who significantly contributed to your appointment.
- Where have you heard that? Do you remember… the entire media talked about that for four years, and not just that; where did you get that information?

- That piece of information was not written by our newspaper; at least not first. Perhaps it was written by other media outlets, and we utilized those publications. Do you have contact with Pashinyan’s wife now, have you ever had a close relationship?
- I want to refrain from answering this question. Just like you have written for four years and believed your writing to be correct, think so now.

- Well, since you aren’t answering, people have the right to think it’s true. After all, that's the media's job. Regarding your personal matters, you may find it burdensome, but look at the issue a bit broadly, and you will understand why it was written.
- Being a friend of Anna Hakobyan is an honor, and this is not at all a matter of bearing a burden; I set that aside. Since you state and write various and interesting things, you alone have written the most intriguing ones, both fabricated and non-fabricated… Let me tell you, I have never seen Mrs. Hakobyan in my life, only on television.

For more details, see today’s newspaper.