Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan does not have health problems. This was the response of the Armenian president's spokesperson, Arman Saghatelyan, to a question by Epress.am concerning Sargsyan's lavish stay at a health spa in Seoul earlier this month.
South Korean website The Chosunilbo today reported that Sargsyan spent one week at the Chaum Life Center in Seoul's Gangnam district, and the "rejuvenation" treatment he and his entourage underwent included "stem cell therapy, spa and anti-aging therapy, body polishes, massages, and weight-control programs." The group paid approximately $186,000 USD in total for these services.
"I have repeatedly refuted and again refute the absurd rumors that supposedly President Serzh Sargsyan has health problems. It's not true. As to questions regarding the president's vacation during the first half of January, as I've already mentioned it was of a personal nature; consequently, no public information about the details were reported.
"During the vacation, to my knowledge, the president visited a health center — not for treatment but for preventative purposes. The amount you noted is payment for services provided to not only the president, but also the entire group. The payment for services provided to Serzh Sargsyan is only part of the total, which is many times less than the indicated amount, and the payment for that part was made at the expense of his personal funds," said Saghatelyan.
Epress.am had sent the press secretary the following questions:
- Is the information on the South Korean website true?
- If yes, what health problems did Serzh Sargsyan have?
- Was the cost of the treatment $186,000, as reported by the publication? (If not, then how much did it cost?)
- Whose funds were spent on the treatment?
Recall, together with Serzh Sargsyan in South Korea were former president of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkadi Ghukasyan and Union of Armenians of Russia President Ara Abrahamyan.