VivaCell-MTS once more confirms the information that its General Manager Ralph Yirikian has no intention to run his candidacy in presidential elections.

The periodical, popular in IT circles, writes in a lengthy article that MTS has granted a $90 million loan to the Fattouche family Lebanese-Armenians, co-owners of the Armenian cell-phone operator “K(arabakh)-Telecom”- VivaCell-MTS now belonging to the Russian MTS corporation. 

“Market specialists do not exclude a possibility that the General Manager of VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian needed the loan to pursue a political career; many see him as a potential candidate in the forthcoming presidential elections in Armenia,” writes the publication. 

MTS bought 80 percent of shares of K-Telecom from the Lebanese proprietors Pierre and Moussa Fattouche in 2007 for 310 million euros. 

According to Cnews.ru’s private sources, “the sale of the company shares to MTS had political motives and the money will serve to satisfy general manger Ralph Yirikian’s political ambitions”. 

The cited source grounded such claims by the fact that “as compared to the other operators of the MTS Group, VivaCell spends a lot on charity and, moreover, the funds are raised by the Lebanese Armenian community”. 

”And besides, K-Telecom is intensively advertised in mass media, which has given food for the rumors claiming that Yirikian is planning to run for presidency in the next elections in Armenia.” 

VivaCell-MTS’s statement released on Dec. 1called the information a “lie”, and clearly stated that Yirikian had no such intentions. 

“One can only imagine who these ‘market experts’ and ‘the private source of one of the competitors’ are spreading that kind of false information and, especially, what goals they are pursuing. Such behavior of alleged competitors is indecent, dishonest and absolutely unacceptable,” the statement says in part. 

It also stresses that VivaCell’s social activities are realized “exceptionally by the company means as part of their corporate social responsibility program”. 

“Not only Ralph Yirikian has no claims or intentions of being elected or appointed to a political post, he also meets none of the requirements that would make him eligible as a presidential candidate,” says the company statement referring to the constitutional requirement of having 10 years’ citizenship and permanent residency of Armenia. 

Although similar speculations over Yirikian as a possible candidate for presidency have not been uncommon in Armenia, they turned persistent last spring when Robert Kocharyan announced his intentions to return to politics. 

From then on, many recalled how Kocharyan had always favoured Yirikian; some were alleging that Kocharyan was preparing his replacement as represented by Yirikian, just like Putin did in Russia through Medvedev. 

And while Yirikian is denying any such possibility, many believe that he, in fact, would make a viable candidate, considering his unique image as a philanthropist, and an educated and honest businessman. 

Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan said recently that Yirikian has been on the list of potential candidates of presidency. 

“In 2008 he was mostly perceived by public as a potential candidate for the prime-minister’s post, but now they see him suitable to run for the office,” he told ArmeniaNow, basing his opinion on survey results. 

“His ratings are high and it is explained by the fact that 91 percent of the respondents [of regular surveys] prioritise social issues and that’s the reason why Gagik Tsarukyan and Yirikian are highly appreciated: people often rely on these two people for possible solutions to their issues,” says the sociologist.