Nationalization process is not some kind of “store” that can be taken and nationalized - economist on situation with Electric Networks of Armenia (EXCLUSIVE)
YEREVAN, June 25. /ARKA/. Armenian economist Tatul Manaseryan gave a comment in connection with the statement of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the nationalization of the Electric Networks of Armenia, owned by a Russia-based businessman of Armenian origin Samvel Karapetyan, arrested earlier this week for two months for public calls to seize power.
Karapetyan's lawyers say their client does not admit the charges and have filed a motion to appeal the arrest. The lawyers are also preparing a complaint to the ECHR against Armenia.
Earlier, Pashinyan said that the plan for the nationalization of Electric Networks of Armenia was ready and the practical stage would begin very soon.
"The processes will be carried out in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Armenia," Pashinyan wrote on social networks.
"The nationalization process is not some kind of “store” that can be taken and nationalized," Tatul Manaseryan said in an interview with ARKA news agency.
He noted that this is, first of all, infrastructure, without which it is impossible to imagine the functioning of the economy of.
"And from this point of view, we must take into account that, firstly, we do not have such a law "On nationalization". Any developed country in the world, a civilized state has such a law. Because if there is a law "On privatization", then there must also be a balancing law "On nationalization", - noted Manaseryan.
According to the expert, without such a law, talking about nationalization is simply elementary illiteracy.
Manaseryan said that from the point of view of the functioning of the economy, it is even difficult to imagine what consequences the nationalization of such an object will have if the government nevertheless makes the appropriate decision.
"Of course, theoretically this is possible, but in practical terms, what impact will it have on the economy, and on foreign policy, how will those states that understand the importance of this infrastructure treat us," - the expert asked.
Electric Networks of Armenia is part of the Tashir Group of Companies, owned by entrepreneur and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan. ENA manages medium and low voltage distribution networks in Armenia, serving about 1 million subscribers. Since 2016, Tashir Group has invested about $680 million in the modernization of Electric Networks of Armenia alone, and another $150-200 million in the creation of new capacities.
On June 19, Karapetyan visited the Catholicos of All Armenians in Echmiadzin in connection with the attacks of the Armenian authorities on the senior clergy and expressed his support for the Patriarch. He noted that the current unacceptable situation will be resolved with the participation of politicians.
"If politicians fail, we will take part in this in our own way," Karapetyan said. After this, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan wrote several harsh posts on social networks addressed to Karapetyan. A few hours later, Karapetyan was detained by security forces in his mansion in Yerevan.-0-
