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Presence of Armenians in ‘Panama Papers’ is indication of lack of control

10.05.2016, 14:11
The inclusion of 37 individuals and entities affiliated with Armenia in the updated ‘Panama Papers" is an indication of  lack of control and appropriate levers, which are inherent in an effective government, economist Vardan Bostanjyan said today in comments on the release of the full version of the ‘Panama Papers.’

Presence of Armenians in ‘Panama Papers’ is indication of lack of control
YEREVAN, May 10. /ARKA/. The inclusion of 37 individuals and entities affiliated with Armenia in the updated ‘Panama Papers" is an indication of  lack of control and appropriate levers, which are inherent in an effective government, economist Vardan Bostanjyan said today in comments on the release of the full version of the ‘Panama Papers.’

"This means that these persons managed to take significant financial means out of the country", he said during a press conference, stressing that offshores has one goal - to hide the money. 

"This means capital outflow from the country. This has a very negative effect on the economy,’ he said.

The updated 'Panama Papers' database, available at offshoreleaks.icij.org, include 37 individuals and entities affiliated with Armenia. The document includes 32 addresses, as well as three companies that mention the word "Armenia" - ARMENIA GROUP S.A., ARMENIA DEVELOPMENT LTD, GPM ARMENIA LTD, two of which are registered in the British Virgin Islands. The place of registration of the third is unknown. At the same time, these three companies are indirectly linked to Luxembourg, Panama and the United Kingdom.

One of the Armenians in the list is now the former Chief Enforcement Officer Mihran Poghosyan, who according to the Armenian Hetq.am investigative website is a shareholder in three companies registered in Panama - Sigtem Real Estates Incorporated, Hopkinten Trading Incorporated and BANGIO INVEST S.A..

The "Panama Papers" database went live on Monday - the largest ever release of secret offshore companies and the people behind them. The data, collated by the  International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), comes from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca and includes information about companies, trusts, foundations and funds incorporated in 21 tax havens, from Hong Kong to Nevada in the United States. 

The names of thousands of offshore companies were published on Monday night as the Panama Papers were released in full.  The ICIJ made information fully available on 200,000  companies, trusts and foundations set up in 21 jurisdictions. -0-