The artist is not to blame if he’s given a gift, said well-known Armenian duduk player Djivan Gasparyan, speaking to journalists in Yerevan today and commenting on the extravagant gifts awarded to Armenian “stars” during the annual Tashir 2011 Music Awards ceremony.<\/p>\n
“Today we have good boys, wealthy, who live in Russia and in Yerevan; these people, if they want to do good things for the country, why are we dissatisfied and turn the way [they wish to do so] upside down? Talk has to be honest; that is, who’s worthy, who’s unworthy \u2014 this is a completely different matter. But if, say, Gagik Tsarukyan, a wonderful guy, does everything, helps athletes so much, does so many good things, they all respect him, I say this honestly \u2014 what bad thing does this man do? They say, he has so much money: it’s no one’s business, who has how much,” said Gasparyan, defending notorious businessman, president of Armenia’s National Olympic Committee and head of the Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan.<\/p>\n
Speaking specifically about Armenia’s 2008 Eurovision contestant Sirusho, who was also awarded an apartment on the show, Gasparyan suggested the public not view her as the daughter-in-law of second president of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharian (which she is).<\/p>\n
“See her as Sirusho, a [darling] young girl, she sings beautifully: who sings better than her? We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. They gave the child a gift, let’s be happy, what’s the deal,” he said.<\/p>\n