Armenian Tycoon Tsarukian Hints At Political Comeback
Wealthy businessman Gagik Tsarukian, the founder and former leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) who quit politics under government pressure in 2015, is hinting at making a political comeback.
Speaking to media on October 26, Tsarukian, who attended an international economic exhibition in Yerevan, stressed that he ceased his political activities last year to avoid bloodshed that he implied would be inevitable if he and his loyalists continued to push for a regime change.
But he said that he might "reopen the page" that he had turned, "even if he does not need it today."
President Serzh Sarkisian in February 2015 branded the ambitious tycoon as "evil" and said he should not have a place in Armenian politics. Sarkisan also threatened to prosecute him for alleged tax evasion.
Tsarukian initially responded by calling for Sarkisian's ouster but eventually backed off, resigning as BHK leader and announcing that he was quitting politics altogether despite retaining a seat in parliament.
The two men subsequently made peace, repeatedly making joint public appearances, including most recently at the summer Olympic Games in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil, where Tsarukian was head of Armenia's National Olympic Committee.
BHK leader Naira Zohrabian and others have been calling for Tsarukian's return to politics ahead of parliamentary elections in April. Zohrabian described it as a "public demand."
More than a thousand Tsarukian supporters staged a "spontaneous" rally on October 24 outside the tycoon's sprawling mansion in Abovian, a town some 20 kilometers to the northeast of Yerevan, urging the former political heavyweight to return to politics.
But Tsarukian told the sympathetic crowd through his security staff not to gather near his house again, saying he would personally announce any change of plans.
Two days later, he signaled he had a change of heart, saying, without elaborating:
"Having turned the page of my political activities, for two years I stayed with my state and with my people and have done everything for my people. I am from this country and have invested all my money in this country. If there is a need for that, if prominent political figures fail in making headway, if there is a demand for that, even if I don't need it nowhellip; it is possible that the closed page will be reopened." .
He stressed that he does not bear a grudge against anyone, including the ruling party members who insulted him. "I want everyone to know that Tsarukian is not en evil person, he is a forgiving person," he said.
Tsarukian also praised the current prime minister, Karen Karapetian. "I know our prime minister very well. I have a high regard for him," he said.
Tsarukian previously has been critical of the government's handling of economic affairs.