The "Past" newspaper writes:
Recently, a situation has arisen in Armenia where business representatives regularly face harsh interventions by law enforcement agencies. In particular, the use of force alongside tax inspections of developers raises a disturbing question: where does legal oversight end and where does forceful terror against business begin? According to available information, some companies, without waiting for a court examination, have paid the sums demanded of them. Others, who wholly or partly dispute their alleged violations and calculated obligations, face forceful pressure in the form of detention, arrest, and requests for pretrial detention measures.
However, disputing claims is not proof of guilt, and defending one's position in court is every individual's right. According to "Past" newspaper sources, such actions have affected companies like "Reed," "Arcana," "Tesaranshin," and others. Specifically, in the case of "Reed," representatives of the management and employees were taken by force to law enforcement agencies at six in the morning without prior notification. Meanwhile, company representatives, according to our sources, cooperated with the investigation and provided the requested information.
Moreover, to ensure possible tax obligations, 530 million AMD has already been transferred to a deposit account as per the claimed amount. Nevertheless, they were arrested and pretrial detention was requested. According to the same source, the court released Ruben Grigoryan and the company employees due to a lack of reasonable suspicion. A question regarding this modus operandi was also addressed to Nikol Pashinyan.
He stated that he needs to familiarize himself with the specific case and study the situation. At the same time, he said he negatively views forceful methods and pressure on business. Against this position, the question becomes even more urgent: on what grounds are such actions against developers justified, and are their economic consequences evaluated?
Law enforcement agencies may not realize how such treatment of business can cause investment decline, economic distrust, and even the risk of collapse. But those bearing political responsibility for the country's development must clearly understand this.
If this modus operandi continues without evaluating consequences, then the issue concerns their professional capabilities and political foresight.
Details in today's issue of the "Past" newspaper
