Gagik Tsarukian
Encyclopedia
Gagik Kolyai Tsarukyan ,, also known by his nickname Dodi Gago is an Armenia
n politician and a wealthy businessman. He is seen as the most influential of Armenia's government-connected "oligarchs
" and key business partner of Kocharyan owning over a dozen big businesses and living in a very large villa on a hilltop overlooking the northern outskirts of Yerevan.
Tsarukyan is the founder and current leader of Prosperous Armenia Party and also the president of Armenia's National Olympic Committee (was reelected on December 4, 2008).
Tsarukyan graduated from Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture
in 1989, had achievements in sports, was engaged in boxing, wrestling and arm wrestling. In 1996 Gagik Tsarukyan was given a title of world champion in arm-wrestling, and in 1998 champion of Europe.
Since 1989 Tsarukyan has been engaged in entrepreneurship. In 1995 he founded and presided "Multi Group" concern which now includes more than 30 enterprises: "Kotayk" beer factory in Abovyan, Yerevan Chemical Pharmaceutical Company, "Mek" Network of Furniture Stores, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, etc. Tsarukyan is accused of depriving ownership rights of foreign investors in Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory. Currently there are several court hearings pending. The largest one is launched from a German investment firm that accuses Tsarukyan of having illegally taken their stake. See Ownership of NOY in question
Since 2003 Tsarukyan has been a RA National Assembly deputy. On May 25, 2003 he was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly of Armenia
from District 42 after running unopposed, later becoming a member of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs; he was not a member of a parliamentary faction during this term. In late 2005 he founded the Prosperous Armenia Party. During the first congress of Prosperous Amenia Party, on April 30, 2004, Tsarukyan was elected as its president. During the fourth congress of the party, on February 12, 2009, Tsarukyan was re-elected as the party president. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the May 2007 parliamentary election
from District 28 as a Prosperous Armenia candidate. Following this election he became head of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction and a member of the Committee on the Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs in June 2007.
Javahir Tsarukyan is Gagik Tsarukyan's wife. They have six children.
Roza, Gayane and Emma Tsarukyans have graduated from Anania Shirakaci College with honors. Roza and Emma are studying at Yerevan State Medical University
. Gayane Tsarukyan has graduated from Yerevan State University
Faculty of Law with honors.
Anahit and are studying at Anania Shirakaci College.
Hovhannes, the youngest member of the family, will go to school next year.
In 2002, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory was given a new lease of life after having a new owner and after becoming a part of Multi Group Concern. With the efforts made by Gagik Tsarukyan 50 million US dollar-equivalent Armenian drams were invested for the modernization and constructional works, in obtainment of new line of bottling and oak barrels.
Gagik Tsarukyan took care of one matter the essence of which lies in the specialists and technologists of the factory restoring the factory's wealth of experience that was accumulated during many years of the company’s existence by means of the old manuscripts, museum exhibits and family archives. The lost glorious name Armenian Cognac was also restored. "Ararat" Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory is one of the unique factories, where 50 and more years old cognac spirits are kept. Currently there are several claims pending at Armenian and international courts. A German investment fund accuses Multigroup of having deprived them from their right of ownership.
, wrestling
and arm wrestling
. Tsarukyan graduated from Armenian State university of Physical Education in 1989 was a teacher of physical education
and sports and also a wrestling coach. Tsarukyan had achievements in sports, in 1996 he was given a title of world champion in arm-wrestling, and in 1998 champion of Europe.
On December 4, 2008 Gagik Tsarukyan was unanimously reelected as NOCA president by the general assembly of Armenian National Olympic Committee.
Gagik Tsarukyan has been engaged in politics since 2000-s. Three years later during third convocation of National Assembly elections which took place on May 25, 2003 Gagik Tsarukyan was elected as NA deputy from 42 electoral district. During NA third convocation years Gagik Tsarukyan acted as independent deputy, was not represented in any faction or any deputy group. From 2003 till 2007 Gagik Tsarukyan was the member of RA NA Defense, National security and Interior affairs standing committee.
There are 25 members in "Prosperous Armenia" faction. Deputies Martun Grigoryan and Rustam Gasparyan are also the members of Prosperous Armenia Party.
.
Tsarukian's holding company
is "Multi Group" which comprises over 40 small and large businesses. In March 2006, Tsarukian sold his 29 percent stake in the Kotayk brewery
to French beer magnate Pierre Castel for about $4 million.
Businesses that are part of the Multi Group conglomerate include:
-- officially the most profitable of his businesses—occupies only the 45th place in the Armenian Statistical Service's annual ranking of tax payers, with tax contributions totaling 1.3 billion drams in 2007 (about $3.8 million USD in 2007). In contrast, another smaller Ararat-based plant (which smelts gold ore) paid more taxes despite standing idle during much of 2007 due to a change of ownership.
Despite being lucrative, the vast majority of Tsarukian's Multi Group businesses were not included in the list of the country's leading corporate taxpayers released by the Armenian government in early 2005.
with St. Grigor Lousavorich
order by the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians Garegin II
highly evaluating Mr. Tsarukyan‘s activity towards church construction.
In 2003 upon the decree determined by the president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan the president of Armenian National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan, who had his great input in the development of RA sports, was honored with Movses Khorenatsi
medal.
On September 17, 2008 upon RA president Serzh Sargsyan decree, Tsarukyan was honored with "Services provided to the motherland" first rank medal for the great input he had in the development of RA sports and physical education.
On May 11, 2009 Tsarukyan was awarded with "European of the year" by the International European movement.
On September 12, 2009 European Judo Federation honored NOCA president Gagik Tsarukyan with gold medal.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n politician and a wealthy businessman. He is seen as the most influential of Armenia's government-connected "oligarchs
Business oligarch
Business oligarch is a near-synonym of the term "business magnate", borrowed by the English speaking and western media from post-Soviet parlance to describe the huge, fast-acquired wealth of some businessmen of the former Soviet republics during the privatization in Russia and other post-Soviet...
" and key business partner of Kocharyan owning over a dozen big businesses and living in a very large villa on a hilltop overlooking the northern outskirts of Yerevan.
Tsarukyan is the founder and current leader of Prosperous Armenia Party and also the president of Armenia's National Olympic Committee (was reelected on December 4, 2008).
Tsarukyan graduated from Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture
Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture
Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture is a high-education institute, located in Yerevan, Armenia. It was founded in 1945 and prepares trainers, sports journalists, specialists in kinesiology and adaptive physical training...
in 1989, had achievements in sports, was engaged in boxing, wrestling and arm wrestling. In 1996 Gagik Tsarukyan was given a title of world champion in arm-wrestling, and in 1998 champion of Europe.
Since 1989 Tsarukyan has been engaged in entrepreneurship. In 1995 he founded and presided "Multi Group" concern which now includes more than 30 enterprises: "Kotayk" beer factory in Abovyan, Yerevan Chemical Pharmaceutical Company, "Mek" Network of Furniture Stores, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, etc. Tsarukyan is accused of depriving ownership rights of foreign investors in Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory. Currently there are several court hearings pending. The largest one is launched from a German investment firm that accuses Tsarukyan of having illegally taken their stake. See Ownership of NOY in question
Since 2003 Tsarukyan has been a RA National Assembly deputy. On May 25, 2003 he was elected as a deputy in the National Assembly of Armenia
National Assembly of Armenia
The Azgayin Zhoghov of Armenia is the official name of the legislative branch of the government of Armenia.-History:Until the promulgation of the Hatt-i Sharif of 1839, the patriarch and his clients, within limits, possessed authority over Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire...
from District 42 after running unopposed, later becoming a member of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs; he was not a member of a parliamentary faction during this term. In late 2005 he founded the Prosperous Armenia Party. During the first congress of Prosperous Amenia Party, on April 30, 2004, Tsarukyan was elected as its president. During the fourth congress of the party, on February 12, 2009, Tsarukyan was re-elected as the party president. He was re-elected to the National Assembly in the May 2007 parliamentary election
Armenian parliamentary election, 2007
Parliamentary elections were held in Armenia on 12 May 2007. 1,364 candidates ran for the 131 seats, 41 of which were constituency seats with the remaining 90 being filled by a proportional party-list system...
from District 28 as a Prosperous Armenia candidate. Following this election he became head of the Prosperous Armenia parliamentary faction and a member of the Committee on the Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs in June 2007.
Javahir Tsarukyan is Gagik Tsarukyan's wife. They have six children.
Biography
Parents
Gagik Tsarukyan was born in Nikolay and Roza Tsarukyans’ family. Nikolay Tsarukyan, father of the family, is an electrical engineer by profession now is engaged in social activities. Roza Tsarukyan, Gagik Tsarukyan’s mother, is an accountant now is managing research-and-production center of "Multi Agro" LLC and at the same time is the honorable chairman of "Prosperous Armenia" Party Women council.Childhood
Tsarukyan studied at Arinj village school. Till now Mr. Tsarukyan visits Arinj school several times a year and meets with the teachers. Gagik Tarukyan met his future wife Javahir Tsarukyan in Arinj school, who was also studying at that same school. Gagik Tsarukyan was distinguished with physical abilities and that fact really had influence on his higher education choice.Family
Gagik Tsarukyan’s wife is Javahir Tsarukyan. Mr. and Mrs. Tsarukyans have 6 children.Roza, Gayane and Emma Tsarukyans have graduated from Anania Shirakaci College with honors. Roza and Emma are studying at Yerevan State Medical University
Yerevan State Medical University
Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi is a leading medical school in Yerevan, Armenia. YSMU was founded in 1920. The highest administrative organ is the University Council, which convenes at least twice a year. The Council makes decisions about the main activities of the University...
. Gayane Tsarukyan has graduated from Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University
Yerevan State University is a university in Yerevan, Armenia. Founded on May 16 1919, it is the largest university in the country with 110 departments. Of its 3,150 employees, 1,190 comprise the teaching staff which includes 25 academicians, 130 professors, 700 docents , and 360 assistant lecturers...
Faculty of Law with honors.
Anahit and are studying at Anania Shirakaci College.
Hovhannes, the youngest member of the family, will go to school next year.
Entrepreneur Gagik Tsarukyan
Tsarukyan started his business activities in the 1980s. During 1990-1992 Gagik Tsarukyan was the executive director of "Armenia" company and in 1992 he was involved in animal husbandry activities. He established a dairy production enterprise in Arinj village, Abovyan Region (now Kotayk Marz). In 1995 Gagik Tsarukyan founded and presided "Multi Group" concern which now includes Kotayk Abovyan beer factory, Yerevan Chemical Pharmaceutical Company, "Mek" Network of Furniture Stores, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, "Ararat" cement Factory, "Aviaservice" JSC, "Multi Stone" stone Processing Company, "Multi Rest House" Company, "Global Motors" CJSC, "Multi City House" Company and other companies and organizations.In 2002, Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory was given a new lease of life after having a new owner and after becoming a part of Multi Group Concern. With the efforts made by Gagik Tsarukyan 50 million US dollar-equivalent Armenian drams were invested for the modernization and constructional works, in obtainment of new line of bottling and oak barrels.
Gagik Tsarukyan took care of one matter the essence of which lies in the specialists and technologists of the factory restoring the factory's wealth of experience that was accumulated during many years of the company’s existence by means of the old manuscripts, museum exhibits and family archives. The lost glorious name Armenian Cognac was also restored. "Ararat" Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory is one of the unique factories, where 50 and more years old cognac spirits are kept. Currently there are several claims pending at Armenian and international courts. A German investment fund accuses Multigroup of having deprived them from their right of ownership.
Sports Achievements
Tsarukyan took part in sports since his school years. He went for boxingBoxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and arm wrestling
Arm wrestling
Arm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand...
. Tsarukyan graduated from Armenian State university of Physical Education in 1989 was a teacher of physical education
Physical education
Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
and sports and also a wrestling coach. Tsarukyan had achievements in sports, in 1996 he was given a title of world champion in arm-wrestling, and in 1998 champion of Europe.
Gagik Tsarukyan – The president of Armenian National Olympic Committee
Tsarukyan is the president of Armenian National Olympic Committee, was reelected in 2004. Armenian athletes under the leadership of Gagik Tsarukyan showed an unprecedented result during 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, returning with 6 bronze medals.On December 4, 2008 Gagik Tsarukyan was unanimously reelected as NOCA president by the general assembly of Armenian National Olympic Committee.
Political Activity
"Prosperous Armenia" Party establishment
Tsarukyan established "Prosperous Armenia" Party in 2004. In that same year, during the first congress of "Prosperous Armenia’ Party which took place on April 30, 2004, Gagik Tsarukyan was elected as the president of the Party. As a result of National Assembly elections which took place on May 12, 2007 "Prosperous Armenia" Party led by Mr. Tsarukyan got 204 443 votes receiving 25 mandates in NA. During the fourth congress of "Prosperous Armenia" Party which took place on February 12, 2009, Tsarukyan was reelected as the president of the party. As a result of "Prosperous Armenia" Party fourth congress 93 member PAP political council was elected. Gagik Tsarukyan is the chairman of newly elected PAP Political council.Gagik Tsarukyan–the chairman of NA "Prosperous Armenia" Party faction
"Prosperous Armenia" Party has 27 deputies in Armenia's National Assembly and Prosperous Armenia faction led by Gagik Tsarukyan, is the second in NA by its number of representatives.There are 25 members in "Prosperous Armenia" faction. Deputies Martun Grigoryan and Rustam Gasparyan are also the members of Prosperous Armenia Party.
Business assets
Tsarukian owns a dozen big businesses and rose to prominence in the late 1990s as a minority shareholder in a French-owned brewery in Abovian. His business empire has since expanded dramatically, aided by his close ties with then President Robert KocharianRobert Kocharian
Robert Kocharyan was the second President of Armenia, serving from 1998 till 2008. He was previously President of Nagorno-Karabakh from 1994 to 1997 and Prime Minister of Armenia from 1997 to 1998.-Biography:...
.
Tsarukian's holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
is "Multi Group" which comprises over 40 small and large businesses. In March 2006, Tsarukian sold his 29 percent stake in the Kotayk brewery
Kotayk Brewery
Kotayk Brewery is a beer brewery founded in 1974 in Abovyan, Armenia. In 1997, Castel Group invested 18 million dollars in the brewery, becoming one of the most important foreign investors in Armenia during that year....
to French beer magnate Pierre Castel for about $4 million.
Businesses that are part of the Multi Group conglomerate include:
- Multi Lion, Armenia's leading supplier of liquefied gas to households, cars and buses, is fifty percent owned by Multi Group and fifty percent owned by Aleksandr Sarkisian, the brother of Armenia's president Serge Sarkisian.
- Multi Stone, stone processing company
- Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine and Vodka Factory Tsarukyan is curretnly accused of having deprived ownership rights of other investors in this company. Currently there are several court hearings pending.
Low income reporting and tax payments
Despite maintaining an extravagant lifestyle, Tsarukian's companies post only modest revenues. His cement factory in AraratArarat, Armenia
Ararat is a city in Armenia in the province of Ararat, about 42 km northwest of Yerevan.The Ararat Cement Factory has been opened in 1927 along with small apartments to accommodate the workers. In 1935, it was incorporated with the village of Davalu. In 1939 the town of Ararat was officially...
-- officially the most profitable of his businesses—occupies only the 45th place in the Armenian Statistical Service's annual ranking of tax payers, with tax contributions totaling 1.3 billion drams in 2007 (about $3.8 million USD in 2007). In contrast, another smaller Ararat-based plant (which smelts gold ore) paid more taxes despite standing idle during much of 2007 due to a change of ownership.
Despite being lucrative, the vast majority of Tsarukian's Multi Group businesses were not included in the list of the country's leading corporate taxpayers released by the Armenian government in early 2005.
Awards and medals
In 2002 Tsarukyan was awardedAwards and decorations of Armenia
Awards and decorations of Armenia are military and civil decorations of the Republic of Armenia which are bestowed by various agencies of the Armenian government for acts of accomplishment benefiting the government and the Armenian nation as a whole....
with St. Grigor Lousavorich
Gregory the Illuminator
Saint Gregory the Illuminator or Saint Gregory the Enlightener is the patron saint and first official head of the Armenian Apostolic Church...
order by the Supreme Patriarch of all Armenians Garegin II
Karekin II
Catholicos Karekin II is the current head of the Holy Armenian Apostolic Church.He was born as Ktrij Nersessian in Voskehat, Armenia, on August 21, 1951. He entered the Gevorkian Theological Seminary at Echmiadzin in 1965 and graduated with honors in 1971. He was ordained to the diaconate deacon...
highly evaluating Mr. Tsarukyan‘s activity towards church construction.
In 2003 upon the decree determined by the president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan the president of Armenian National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan, who had his great input in the development of RA sports, was honored with Movses Khorenatsi
Movses Khorenatsi
Moses of Chorene, also Moses of Khoren, Moses Chorenensis, or Movses Khorenatsi , or a 7th to 9th century date) was an Armenian historian, and author of the History of Armenia....
medal.
On September 17, 2008 upon RA president Serzh Sargsyan decree, Tsarukyan was honored with "Services provided to the motherland" first rank medal for the great input he had in the development of RA sports and physical education.
On May 11, 2009 Tsarukyan was awarded with "European of the year" by the International European movement.
On September 12, 2009 European Judo Federation honored NOCA president Gagik Tsarukyan with gold medal.
Video Materials
- THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE GAGIK TSARUKYAN AWARDED 13 PERSPECTIVE ATHLETES WITH CERTIFICATES OF MASTERS OF INTERNATIONAL SPORTS
- THE PRESIDENT OF ARMENIAN NATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE GAGIK TSARUKYAN MET ATHLETES WHO RETURNED TO ARMENIA WITH BRONZE MEDALS
- THE SPEECH OF "PROSPEROUS ARMENIA" PARTY LEADER GAGIK TSARUKYAN AT THE FOURTH CONGRESS OF THE PARTY
- GAGIK TSARUKYAN RECEIVED THE RANK OF HONORABLE CITIZEN OF NOR-HACHN
- GAGIK TSARUKYAN "WE MUST EVALUATE THE BEST ARMENIAN ATHLETE OF 20TH CENTURY"
- "PROSPEROUS ARMENIA" PARTY LEADER GAGIK TSARUKYAN WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN "BJNI" COMPULSORY AUCTION
- GAGIK TSARUKYAN STATES HIS POINT OF VIEW TOWARDS WORLD FINANCIAL CRISIS
- GAGIK TSARUKYAN " THERE WILL BE NO JOB DESTRUCTION"
- GAGIK TSARUKYAN "Animal Cruelty"