Hovik Abrahamyan’s property increased fivefold over three years

The number of property of former Prime Minister, ex-Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan has increased by 17 over the past four years.

The press has long argued that numerous movable and immovable properties and companies owned by former MP of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Hovik Abrahamyan are registered under the names of his relatives, friends and employees.

Back in 2014, when asked by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan how he got rich, Abrahamyan responded: “In fact, I earned it over the years when I worked, I did farming when it was allowed.”

It is noteworthy that over the period of 1995-2016, i.e. 21 years Abrahamyan held public posts – mayor, deputy, governor, minister, chief of staff of the president, NA speaker and prime minister.

Abrahamyan last submitted a declaration on September 8, 2016 upon assuming the post of the Prime Minister. He declared three apartments and one garage, as well as large amount of money of AMD 160 million and USD 1.5 million.

However, the former prime minister has acquired new apartments and plots over the past four years and it is noteworthy that he bought them from his close relatives.

Abrahamyan’s new property

From the documents provided to Fip.am by the State Committee of Real Estate Cadastre it is clear that Abrahamyan currently owns 21 units of property which is over five times the property owned in the past. The full list is given below.

In fact, only in his native village of Mkhchyan Abrahamyan acquired 12 agricultural plots. Cadastral documents showed that Hovik Abrahamyan also acquired new plots in Tsakhkadzor and Arzakan communities of Kotayk marz in 2018.

Currently there are two plots owned by Abrahamyan in Tsakhkadzor with total surface area of 1,592 ha. These plots are located under addresses No. 3 and No. 4 of 1^st Antarayin district.

These two land plots used to belong to Hovik Abrahamyan’s son Argam Abrahamyan from 2009 who purchased them for AMD 10 and 1 million respectively. However, Abrahamyan bought these two lands on April 6, 2018 paying his son AMD 44 and 3.2 million respectively.

According to cadastral documents, these plots are located in the protected areas of Tsakhkadzor. There are two rest houses of 395 square meters and 250 square meters accordingly. Initially these were voluntary buildings and were legalized by Hovik Abrahamyan in July 2018 and January 2019. Former PM paid AMD 2.06 million and 1.3 million for legalization.

Hovik Abrahamyan owns a plot of 0.331 hectares in Arzakan on which there are two cottages of 28.1 and 32.7 square meters. Hovik Abrahamyan bought this land plot and cottages from his son Argam on April 6, 2018 as well, paying AMD 5.2 million. Argam Abrahamyan had purchased them in July 2005 paying AMD 2.5 million for each.

In fact, after stepping down as prime minister, Hovik Abrahamyan decided to “take back” his property from his relatives, in this case from his son. It is noteworthy that Argam Abrahamyan purchased the lands at the age of 19 and 23 when his father was a high-ranking official.

Hovhannes Nazaretyan