Epress.am News from Armenia
The cement factory in Hrazdan, Mika-Cement, previously owned by businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov, has a new owner. According to local daily Zhoghovurd's sources, the factory was purchased by former Deputy Minister of Defense, General Gagik Melkonyan, who is preparing to resume operations very soon.
Speaking to the newspaper, Melkonyan said he only intervened for his Moscow-based friends to acquire the factory and run it, but he admitted that he will personally keep an eye on the factory's work. "I might not be the manager, but it will be under my supervision, so that it doesn't end up in the same situation it was before."
The former deputy defense minister added that the new owners intend to pay off the factory's debts and pay employees their overdue wages.
The newspaper recalls that Gagik Melkonyan was dismissed from his position ahead of March 1, 2008, upon instructions from former President of Armenia Robert Kocharian because Armenia's first president, opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrossian, had announced that Melkonyan had joined his ranks.