Gagik Tsarukyan | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Tsarukyan in 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1956 Arinj, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Prosperous Armenia |
| Spouse | Javahir Tsarukyan |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Yerevan Institute of Physical Culture |
| Website | Official website |
Gagik Kolyayi Tsarukyan (Armenian: Գագիկ Կոլյայի Ծառուկյան; born 25 November 1956), also known as Dodi Gago (Armenian: Դոդի Գագո), is an Armenian businessman, politician, and former athlete. Tsarukyan is the founder and leader of the Prosperous Armenia political party.[1] He also owns various large-scale businesses and is believed to be one of the richest men in Armenia.
Announcing his departure from politics for a hiatus in February 2015, he announced his return to politics in January 2017,[2] forming the parliamentary Tsarukyan Alliance, an electoral alliance made up of Prosperous Armenia, the Alliance Party and the Mission Party. During the 2018 Armenian parliamentary election, Prosperous Armenia obtained 8.26% of the popular vote, coming in second and becoming the largest opposition party in parliament.
An avid sportsman, he practiced boxing, wrestling and arm wrestling, becoming world champion in arm-wrestling in 1996 and winning the European championship in 1998. Tsarukyan is also the president of Armenia's National Olympic Committee, being reelected on December 4, 2008.[3][4][5]
In July 2020, he was formally charged with bribery and corruption, right after the National Assembly voted for his immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament to be revoked.[6]
- ^ "Gagik Tsarukyan:: Political Career". Archived from the original on 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ Staff, Weekly (January 17, 2017). "Gagik Tsarukyan Officially Announces Return to Armenian Politics". The Armenian Weekly.
- ^ "The president of Armenian National Olympic Committee Gagik Tsarukyan". Archived from the original on 2009-05-03. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "Gagik Tsarukyan was reelected as ANOC president". Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2009-04-01.
- ^ "Prominent Oppositionist Set To Lead Armenian 'Oligarchic' Party". Armenia Liberty (RFE/RL). January 11, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2009.
Tsarukian is seen as the most influential of Armenia's government-connected "oligarchs" who are not averse to flaunting their wealth amid widespread poverty. They usually live in huge mansions and travel in motorcades made up of luxury cars with virtually identical license plates. Most of them hold sway in a particular area of the country. Tsarukian and Aleksanian, for example, ran unopposed and were easily elected to parliament from their de facto fiefdoms in the last election held in May 2003.
- ^ "Business Tycoon Gagik Tsarukyan Charged with Bribery, Corruption". 17 June 2020.