“I hope common sense will prevail, and the work of these enterprises won’t be obstructed”: Tsarukyan

Gagik Tsarukyan, imprisoned leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, has issued a statement thanking the public figures who have supported him.

“Some of you I know personally, with some of you we were at the construction site of the Christ statue, many of you I don’t know, but that will certainly happen. Frankly, the first thought that came to me after hearing your statement was this: how can a nation have so many well-known, respected people, people who have achieved serious success in their fields, while our country is in the state it’s in.

Our people have very great potential. We can straighten our backs, we can restore our self-confidence, we have something to say to the world — in culture, in science, in sports, in every field. For me, the most painful thing these days is that at the enterprises associated with me, people are being denied the opportunity to go to work, to earn their daily bread. Enterprises that were operating, that were creating value, have been shut down: do you understand what a blow this is to entire business sectors on a national scale, and what a blow it is to working people who earn their living through their labor?

The unjust case brought against me has nothing to do with these enterprises; everyone knows that I stepped away from managing these companies a very long time ago, that I have no connection to their current affairs, and that I have not interfered in their operations. Nevertheless, it is also clear to everyone that the unlawful suspension of these enterprises’ operations is being done in order to hurt me.

I want to express my hope that common sense will finally prevail and that, ultimately, there will be no obstacles to the work of these enterprises, which provide jobs for thousands of people… All of this is causing very great harm both to working citizens and to our country as a whole. These days, I find myself, in my thoughts, very often at the construction site of the Christ statue: every stone, every step, every meter is dear and important to me.

Recently I thought that the time had come to set up a working group to organize the opening ceremony of the statue. I’m planning for respected guests from all over the world to attend, well-known figures, people of world renown, official delegations, friends of my country and my people, representatives of different nations and religions. I’ll say that I already have assurances from many respected figures that they will come to our country for the opening, to see the new wonder of the world… There is a lot of work ahead. With God’s help, it will all be done. I have a deep, unshakable feeling that the erection of this statue will open a new, bright period for our country. This statue is meant to open a new chapter for our country,” Tsarukyan noted.