Hovik Abrahamyan
Hovik Abrahamyan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hovik Argami Abrahamyan January 24, 1959 Mkhchyan, Ararat Province, Armenia |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Prime Minister of Armenia (2014–2016), President of the National Assembly of Armenia |
Hovik Argami Abrahamyan (; born 24 January 1959), commonly referred to as Muk (), is an Armenian political figure and ex-member of the ruling Republican Party. He held the office of prime minister from 13 April 2014 until 8 September 2016. Prior to that, he served as the president of the National Assembly of Armenia.
Early life
Abrahamyan was born in Mkhchyan, located in Ararat Province. His professional journey began in 1990 when he took leadership of the Burastan Brandy Factory and subsequently became president of the Artashat wine-brandy factory. He entered the parliamentary arena in 1995, assumed the role of Mayor of Artashat in 1996, and was appointed governor of Ararat Province in 1998.
Political career
During President Robert Kocharyan’s administration, Abrahamyan served as Minister of Territorial Administration from 2005 to 2008, managing regional government affairs. In April 2008, under President Serzh Sargsyan, he was named head of the presidential staff. By August 2008, he secured an uncontested re-election to the National Assembly, occupying a seat vacated by his brother Henrikto. The following month, he was elected President of the National Assembly, a position he held until November 2011. He returned to parliament in May 2012 as a Republican Party deputy and was known for opposing legislation mandating politicians to disclose their business interests.
Prime minister
Following Tigran Sargsyan’s resignation in April 2014, Abrahamyan was appointed prime minister upon nomination by President Serzh Sargsyan, who described him as an exceptionally effective leader. His appointment drew commendations from Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev.
Public image
According to US Embassy communications from 2008, Abrahamyan was characterized as rough around the edges and narrowly focused. He was recognized for employing assertive political maneuvers and utilizing state resources to secure electoral support for the prime minister. The cables referred to him as the "chief operating officer" behind coercive tactics during Serzh Sargsian’s presidential campaign and critiqued his lack of progressive vision.
US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch noted that Abrahamyan leveraged his political position to benefit business ventures. His holdings reportedly encompass over twenty companies, including sand extraction operations along the Araks river; approximately 1,500 hectares of vineyards near Artashat; several gas stations close to Yerevan; a substantial share in "Ararat Cement"; casinos; petrol stations; and a $7 million summer home located in Crimea. He resisted laws requiring Armenian politicians to reveal their business assets.
Abrahamyan’s son, Argam, is connected through marriage to the family of Gagik Tsarukyan, an oligarch and leader of the Prosperous Armenia party.
Criminal Prosecution
Following a governmental transition with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan assuming the prime ministership, an extensive anti-corruption initiative commenced. Numerous criminal investigations targeted former senior officials, including ex-president Robert Kocharian and former prime minister Hovik Abrahamyan.
By August 2018, charges had been brought against Hovik Abrahamyan, his brother Henrik—who was detained for illegal arms possession—and former police chief Alik Sargsyan. Central to these proceedings was Avazaatik Ltd., which operated a sand quarry in Noramarg. Allegations indicated that in 2008 senior officials demanded a 60% ownership stake in the company; 30% was registered under Henrik Abrahamyan before being sold.
Avazaatik also became embroiled in conflicts with Sarkis Galstyan, former head of Noramagh, regarding a contract for five hectares of farmland. The company obtained quarry development rights in 2012. Henrik Abrahamyan’s arrest followed a search that uncovered numerous weapons at a facility linked to Hovik Abrahamyan—an establishment implicated in dispersing protests in 2008.
In June 2019, Armenia’s Special Investigative Service disclosed ongoing inquiries into Hovik Abrahamyan concerning unauthorized sales of multiple land parcels totaling over 100 hectares within Dilijan communities. These transactions were conducted without public auctions and involved falsified documents. Although some cases faced expiration due to statutes of limitations, authorities pursued annulment of these deals to restore lands back to local jurisdictions.
Income
By the close of 2013, Hovik Abrahamyan and his spouse Juliet declared combined earnings surpassing $6 million. From 2011 to 2013, he reported income of $290,000 derived from agricultural product sales, while Juliet’s earnings for the same timeframe were around $318,000. Nikol Pashinyan raised concerns about the origins of Abrahamyan’s wealth, considering his minimal business operations in agriculture.
In his 2012 parliamentary candidate disclosure, Abrahamyan detailed several real estate assets located in Yerevan: apartments sized 276, 146, and 260 square meters on Tumanyan, Shmidt, and Teryan Streets respectively, along with an 18 square meter garage. These holdings were confirmed again in his 2014 asset declaration when he assumed the office of Prime Minister. Media coverage also noted properties linked to his family members, including his brother Henrik.
Among his business ventures is Paramount Gold Mining Ltd., which he co-established with National Assembly Deputy Tigran Arzakantsyan. The firm is engaged in developing the Lusajur segment of the Meghradzor gold deposit situated in the Kotayk region; Arzakantsyan asserts full ownership of this enterprise. This involvement highlights Abrahamyan’s participation in Armenia’s profitable mining industry.