Spayka plans to export more than 100,000 tons of agricultural products this year
08.04.2019,
11:15
Armenian company Spayka, accused by Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) of large-scale tax evasion to the tune of 7 billion drams (the equivalent of more than $14), said in a statement Sunday it was going to export this year more than 100 thousand metric tons of agricultural products, as much as last year, to be bought from local farmers and to be grown on its own land if the company were allowed to continue operations.
YEREVAN, April 8. /ARKA/. Armenian company Spayka, accused by Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC) of large-scale tax evasion to the tune of 7 billion drams (the equivalent of more than $14), said in a statement Sunday it was going to export this year more than 100 thousand metric tons of agricultural products, as much as last year, to be bought from local farmers and to be grown on its own land if the company were allowed to continue operations.
The company said purchases are seasonal embracing 80 communities in nine provinces of the country- Armavir, Tavush, Lori, Vayots Dzor, Aragatsotn, Shirak, Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions. "Currently, beet is being purchased in Arevik and Karnut communities of the Shirak region, milk in the town of Tashir in the Lori region, in the Dasht community in the Armavir region and the Geghashen community in the Kotayk region," the statement says.
SRC said last week that in 2014-2015 the company bought cheese, pears, apples, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes and other products in various European countries, which are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union, including Poland and Belgium and imported them to Armenia across Georgia from 01/01/2015 – to 01/11/2016.
When importing goods through Georgia’s customs offices the real names, weight, cost, country of origin, supplier and buyer, as well as invoices for the purchase of goods were presented. However, when the goods went through Armenian customs offices, the Armenian customs authorities were provided with false documentation that the imported goods were not subject to taxation and were exempted from VAT.
Greenproduct LLC, subordinated to Spayka LLC, was indicated as the importer. As a result, goods imported from various foreign companies went through customs clearance in Armenia under the name of other goods, the customs clearance of which is exempted from the calculation and payment of customs duties and VAT.
The SRC said Spayka LLC, deliberately aiming to avoid taxes and duties, avoided payment of customs duties and taxes in the amount of 7.036 billion drams (the equivalent of more than $14.4 million). SRC said an investigation was underway to determine the amount of damage caused to the state for the remaining months of 2016, as well as for 2017-2018. For committing these socially dangerous acts on April 4, 2019, David Ghazaryan was charged under part 2 of Article 205 of the Armenian Criminal Code (evasion of taxes, duties, or other obligatory payments exceeding the amount of one thousand minimum wages), but a court ruled last Friday to stop criminal prosecution against him.
The following day the head of Spayka LLC David Ghazaryan, told a press conference that the accusations were ungrounded and the alleged amount of unpaid taxes - 7 billion drams or more than $14 million were artificially bloated by SRC ‘to win over the public opinion."
Spayka founded in 2001, has been engaged in the export and sale of fruits and vegetables to Russia, CIS and European countries since 2007.
The company also manufactures packages, including boxes and pallets of foamed polystyrene. The company also develops intensive gardens. On March 26, Spayka commissioned a $15 million worth cheese factory. The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. --0---
The company said purchases are seasonal embracing 80 communities in nine provinces of the country- Armavir, Tavush, Lori, Vayots Dzor, Aragatsotn, Shirak, Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions. "Currently, beet is being purchased in Arevik and Karnut communities of the Shirak region, milk in the town of Tashir in the Lori region, in the Dasht community in the Armavir region and the Geghashen community in the Kotayk region," the statement says.
SRC said last week that in 2014-2015 the company bought cheese, pears, apples, Chinese cabbage, tomatoes and other products in various European countries, which are not members of the Eurasian Economic Union, including Poland and Belgium and imported them to Armenia across Georgia from 01/01/2015 – to 01/11/2016.
When importing goods through Georgia’s customs offices the real names, weight, cost, country of origin, supplier and buyer, as well as invoices for the purchase of goods were presented. However, when the goods went through Armenian customs offices, the Armenian customs authorities were provided with false documentation that the imported goods were not subject to taxation and were exempted from VAT.
Greenproduct LLC, subordinated to Spayka LLC, was indicated as the importer. As a result, goods imported from various foreign companies went through customs clearance in Armenia under the name of other goods, the customs clearance of which is exempted from the calculation and payment of customs duties and VAT.
The SRC said Spayka LLC, deliberately aiming to avoid taxes and duties, avoided payment of customs duties and taxes in the amount of 7.036 billion drams (the equivalent of more than $14.4 million). SRC said an investigation was underway to determine the amount of damage caused to the state for the remaining months of 2016, as well as for 2017-2018. For committing these socially dangerous acts on April 4, 2019, David Ghazaryan was charged under part 2 of Article 205 of the Armenian Criminal Code (evasion of taxes, duties, or other obligatory payments exceeding the amount of one thousand minimum wages), but a court ruled last Friday to stop criminal prosecution against him.
The following day the head of Spayka LLC David Ghazaryan, told a press conference that the accusations were ungrounded and the alleged amount of unpaid taxes - 7 billion drams or more than $14 million were artificially bloated by SRC ‘to win over the public opinion."
Spayka founded in 2001, has been engaged in the export and sale of fruits and vegetables to Russia, CIS and European countries since 2007.
The company also manufactures packages, including boxes and pallets of foamed polystyrene. The company also develops intensive gardens. On March 26, Spayka commissioned a $15 million worth cheese factory. The opening ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. --0---
