Arsen Torosyan's Family Establishes New Fish Farm in Ghazaravan Village

Former Minister of Health and current MP Arsen Torosyan's family has started a fish farming business in Ghazaravan Village of Aragatsotn region. The fish breeding farm, known locally as "Arsen Torosyan's fish farm," is partly owned by the official's father, as reported by "HETQ."

Established on May 27, 2021, the company "Fish Farm Management" LLC was founded by Shavarsh Grigoryan and his wife, Editha Gurouglian. Grigoryan served as Deputy Minister of Health during Torosyan's tenure and was dismissed in December 2020. From October 2021 to April 28, 2022, he held the position of advisor to the head of the State Revenue Committee.

Prior to his deputy minister appointment, Shavarsh Grigoryan was the acting director of the State Agency for Implementation of Health Programs and director of the Sevan Mental Health Center. He also served as an assistant to former Minister of Health Levan Altunyan.

It appears that Shavarsh Grigoryan has a passion for aquaculture as he owns 16.67% of shares in one of the large fish farms, "Mak Fish" LLC, acquired on April 2, 2021, shortly before the establishment of "Fish Farm Management" LLC. "Mak Fish" LLC has been operational since 2009 and is part of the "Max Fish" group of companies, primarily engaged in the breeding and reproduction of various fish species such as trout and salmon, and the trade of fish and seafood, with most of their products exported to Russia.

The company owns artificial fish farming pools in several villages of Ararat region, covering a total area of about 14 hectares.

Also a shareholder of "Mak Fish" LLC is Vahram Torosyan, a 15% shareholder of the pharmaceutical company "Innovapharm," who owns 25% of shares in the fish farm.

Notably, months after its establishment, the shareholders of "Fish Farm Management" LLC changed. As of October 19, 2021, 80% of the company's shares belong to Arsen Torosyan's father, Gevorg Torosyan, while 20% is owned by the father of Aragatsotn regional governor’s advisor Razmik Tadevosyan, Sarkis Tadevosyan, who has also held positions in the Aragatsotn administration.

The land where "Fish Farm Management" LLC operates is located in Ghazaravan Village, Aragatsotn region. According to data from the State Committee of Cadastre, the landowner, Sarkis Tadevosyan, who holds 20% of the company, leased a 217 square meter production area and 9 fish ponds to "Fish Farm Management" LLC. It is worth mentioning that Sarkis Tadevosyan is also the director of "Fish Farm Management" LLC.

Arsen Torosyan's family is expanding their business in Aragatsotn region through connections with the governor's advisor's family. The day after Torosyan, Gevorg Torosyan, and Sarkis Tadevosyan became shareholders of "Fish Farm Management" LLC on October 20, 2021, he purchased two plots of land in Parpi village of Aragatsotn region, as noted in the official's property, income, and interests declaration for 2021. Torosyan made the purchases from Anna Tadevosyan, Sarkis Tadevosyan's wife, for 3 million 700 thousand and 1 million 300 thousand dram, respectively. Sarkis Tadevosyan hails from Parpi village, as does Aragatsotn regional governor Sergey Movsisyan, which explains the significance of this familial connection, as both Sarkis's son and nephew hold positions in the regional administration.

"Fish Farm Management" LLC obtained a water usage permit for fish farming on March 10, 2022, valid for three years. The company is set to receive 60 liters of water per second from an "anonymous source" as indicated in the documentation.

In terms of real estate acquisitions, 2021 was a notable year for Arsen Torosyan, who besides the land in Parpi, also purchased two plots in Karashamb village of Kotayk region. One of these was acquired for 2 million 700 thousand dram from the former village mayor, Zorik Khlygatyan, who led the community for 24 years. Zorik Khlygatyan is currently the director of the school in Karashamb.

The other land plot, valued at 12 million 300 thousand dram, was purchased by Arsen Torosyan from Zorik Khlygatyan's nephew, Henrik Khlygatyan, who was 25 years old at the time of the transaction.

As per his 2021 property, income, and interests declaration, Arsen Torosyan’s income amounted to approximately 28 million 420 thousand dram and 20 thousand 737 euros. Of this, 9 million 520 thousand dram was a gift from his father, Gevorg Torosyan. The rest was earned from state bodies as salary and other income. The euro amount was received from Austrian "Bank Austria." The government official also declared deposits in banks, totaling approximately 12 million 464 thousand dram, 20 thousand dollars, and 31 thousand euros. In 2021, Arsen Torosyan acquired a 2017 BMW for 17 million 750 thousand dram and sold another BMW for 16 million 400 thousand dram during the same year. Together with his wife, he owns a house in the Nor Nork administrative district of Yerevan, purchased in 2011.

Regarding Arsen Torosyan's wife, Vardanush Tevanyan, her income in the 2021 annual declaration amounted to about 34 million, primarily obtained from "MIBS" LLC as salary and rental income. She also declared cash holdings totaling 8 million 187 thousand dram, 98 dollars, and 8 thousand 80 euros, along with 1 million 500 thousand dram in cash. Vardanush Tevanyan has significant deposits, totaling 51 thousand 558 dollars across three accounts by the end of 2021. She also lent 19 million 380 thousand dram to "Asiamagastro" LLC, a company that constructs multifunctional residential buildings. It is possible that she is purchasing an apartment through this loan, with the sum being an advance payment.

The parliament member's wife owns a MERCEDES-BENZ vehicle acquired in 2019 and sold her BMW 535 for 7 million dram in 2021.

The full article is available on the original source website.