Wednesday, April 10 2019 13:48

ArmInfo.The Spayka company has always advocated the creation of economic values, without being involved in political processes through various speculations. This is stated in the statement of the company received by ArmInfo in connection with the arrest of David Ghazaryan, the company's director.

According to the source, state security has been and remains the most important criterion for the company.  "We actively cooperated with the government, presenting various programs, attracting investments, preparing highly qualified specialists in the field of agriculture.  We welcome the proclamation of an economic revolution and are ready to contribute to achieving the levels set by the government," the statement said.

The document stresses that since 2010 Spayka has been purchasing in Armenia, and regardless of all the existing difficulties, the company has been and remains close to the producer, the farmer. The company operates in more than 80 communities, mediated by more than more than a dozen communities. During all these years there has not been any reasonable case in which the company had debts to farmers. Spayka works with tens of thousands of farmers and provides various advisory services. For organizing the procurement process, the company needs 50 million drams each month, which are drawn from the "Spayka" working capital. These funds are short-term and must be returned to the bank within one or two months immediately after the expiration date. According to the loan agreement, the bank reserves the right to not re-provide funds for use at any time if the financial structure considers that the company's activities are disrupted or its financial position is threatened. For this, the bank does not require any justification.

The statement recalled that the company's director, David Ghazaryan, during his press conference, stated that last August banks had frozen the company's bank accounts, as a result of which the company's activities had become paralyzed. They were unfrozen again after the cessation of criminal proceedings against the company. The company during this period was forced to pay the State Revenue Committee unjustified tax claims in the amount of 2.045 billion drams, so that there was an opportunity to continue its activities. From May 2, 2018 to April 4, 2019, the company invested about $ 90 million in the agricultural sector.

At present, after the director's arrest and hypothetical accusations by state bodies and officials, the process of withdrawing contracts with foreign banks began, as a result of which the company's accounts may be frozen, the pledged property, including trucks, may be arrested. Under these conditions, the company will not be able to use working capital and organize pre-planned purchases in the country's communities.

In parallel with the beginning of the agricultural season, farms attract financial resources, often credit (like the company itself) for the organization of agrotechnical works. To attract these funds, farmers need to sell products at a price that, at a minimum, covers all these costs. The role of "Spayka" in agriculture was that the company acquired products taking into account these costs, offering a price at least 10% higher than the market price. Since 2011, the average purchase price was 200 drams, the minimum - up to 100 drams.  And in the past five years, at the expense of "Spayka", the average purchase price of export apricots was 300-350 drams, the minimum - 250 drams. A similar picture for other types of products. With the direct participation of the company, the export of beets, cabbage, peaches began, the volume of purchases of grapes increased. The initiator of all these types of agricultural products was the Spayka company.

As noted in the statement, the possible failure of the procurement campaign in no way meets the interests of the company. "This can happen only if due to the illegal arrest of the company's director David Ghazaryan, the company's funds and pledged assets will be frozen, which will lead to a sharp deterioration in the company's financial condition," the statement said.

On April 8, the court of general jurisdiction of the Kentron and Nork-Marash districts of Yerevan decided to arrest David Ghazaryan.  Several hundred employees of the largest freight forwarding company in Armenia gathered first at the court building, and after at the government building after they arrested the head of the company. Last Thursday, the State Revenue Committee of Armenia stated that the companies interconnected with "Spayka" did not pay 7 billion drams to the budget. According to the Committee, these companies imported fruits and vegetables from third countries to Armenia, but designed them for goods exempted from VAT and duties. In this connection, director of the company, David Ghazaryan, was charged on April 4.