Vardan Aivazyan: Name of new owner of SCC cannot be hidden like a needle in a haystack

“The names of the real owners will become known in one or two months. This information is not a needle that you can hide in a haystack,” MP of ‘Republican Party of Armenia” (RPA) parliamentary faction Vardan Aivazyan said at a press conference today when commenting on media reports that Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex (SCC) in Yerevan was purchased by him.

“I am glad that SCC will be operated, but what is the point of linking it to me?” he asked.

On August 13 the Armenian government took a decision to sell Karen Demirchyan SCC state non-profit organization on the balance sheet of Defense Ministry to NTAA Investment Group. The sales price is $30 million. It is planned to repair the building of SCC and construct a family complex comprised of a hotel, an indoor water park, concert halls, restaurants, shops, and a casino. The complex will be the first of its kind in Armenia and the whole region. The project is expected to be completed in 4 years.

After the August 20 sitting of RPA Executive Body, RPA’s spokesman, vice speaker of the Armenian government Edward Sharmazanov said that there will be no casino in the Demirchyan Complex. “I insist that there cannot and will not be a casino in SCC,” he said.