‘Tsarukyan is Not the Kind of Man who Presses Buttons’: WikiLeaks

“Gagik Tsarukyan is, without doubt, one of the most colorful figures in Armenia’s political landscape,” writes then US Ambassador to Armenia John Evans in a US cable dated May 12, 2006, and released by whistle-blowing website Wikileaks on Aug. 30, 2011.

“A powerful oligarch with business interests in a variety of fields, Tsarukyan had, until relatively recently, kept out of politics (even though he is an MP). While his political grouping ‘Prosperous Armenia’ was officially registered as a political party in 2004, it is only in the past six months that it is shouldering its way to the forefront as one of the likely centers of power in the run-up to parliamentary elections in 2007. Tsarukyan is detested by many in Armenia’s elite for his provincial, anti-intellectual approach (not to mention a Soviet-era rape conviction), but his success has popular appeal. Tsarukyan acknowledges his shortcomings and told us told us that he plans to bring together ‘real smart people’ to help write his party’s platform and take the lead in government. His role, he said, was to support (bankroll) the effort and keep to the background.”

Eavns notes that Tsarukyan’s “personal style, which would make Donald Trump look like an ascetic, certainly adds flavor to the Yerevan political scene.”

The US ambassador notes that Tsarukyan is “known universally — except perhaps to his face — as ‘Dodi Gago’ (loosely translated as ‘Gary the Dummy’)” and goes on to describe his various businesses and interests, adding “Like almost all of Armenia’s top oligarchs, Tsarukyan is a member of parliament, although he is seldom seen at sessions.”

“Tsarukyan rarely attends public functions of which he is not in control and even more rarely agrees to meetings with foreigners.  With the decision in late 2005 to move forward with the “Prosperous Armenia” movement, he is starting to get out more and recently agreed to have lunch with the British and US DCMs in Yerevan. Tsarukyan insisted, however, on hosting the luncheon at his estate, a sprawling complex of buildings on several acres to the north of Yerevan, crowned by an over-the-top mansion on a hill.”

Evans notes that Tsarukyan met the group dressed in a jeans and a sweater, and with him was Viktor Dallakian, “still officially a member of the opposition Justice Bloc of MPs, but also well-established as the brain trust of Prosperous Armenia.”

“Prosperous Armenia’s party platform was written by a committee headed by Dallakian. Political observers consider it a balanced, pro-business plan with new ideas to ensure that all of Armenia’s businesses pay their fair share of taxes. Tsarukyan said that regardless of the results, he would not seek a senior position in government; he may choose not even to take a seat in the next parliament. He sheepishly admitted to his absenteeism from the current National Assembly, saying that Tsarukyan is not the kind of man who presses buttons’.”

“Whether we like him or not, Tsarukyan will almost certainly be a serious player in Armenian politics after the next election. It would probably be relatively easy for him to put together a group of oligarchs similar to those who already take up most of the majoritarian seats in the current parliament, but that would mean very little change from the self-interested, unprofessional parliament Armenia now has. Much more difficult — and perhaps impossible — would be for him to establish Prosperous Armenia as an issue-based caucus in the next parliament,” concludes the cable.