The Coordinating Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations (RAO CC) mourns the death of Levon Hayrapetyan

Original in Russian — http://russia-armenia.info/node/43132

The Coordinating Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations reports with deep regret that on October 18, 2017, at the 68th year of his life, a famous entrepreneur and philanthropist Levon Gurgenovich Hayrapetyan died.

Levon Hayrapetyan was one of the greatest figures of the Armenian community of Russia and one of the most respected Armenians of the whole world. He was one of the rare respectable businessmen of our time, he kept the honor and dignity of the Armenian and Russian peoples during his entire life.

The help of Russia, Artsakh, Armenia — was a business of all his life. He put his whole soul in this business. That is why, no matter how ambitious, difficult tasks he posed, he invariably was accompanied by success. Even in recent years, being an invalid of the first group, he persistently implemented socially significant projects both in Russia and his Homeland — in Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic).

Among the extensive list of directions of his patronage activities were: assistance to orphanages in Russia and Russian families, who suffered such terrible misfortune as oncological disease of children, assistance to homes for the elderly; restoration of churches and monasteries, including famous Optina monastery, improvement of historical cemeteries; rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure; support of schools and theaters, sports and science, including the Russian Olympic Committee, Lenkom Theater, etc.

He was a man who made a great contribution to the development and strengthening of the Armenian-Russian relations, for which he was awarded the Russian Order of Honor, as well as from the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, S.V. Lavrov a special medal of the Foreign Ministry for the contribution to international cooperation. For the great services to the Motherland, the President of the Republic of Artsakh awarded him the Order of Mesrop Mashtots and the Medal of Gratitude.

Levon Hayrapetyan always stressed that he is part of the Armenian world, he took an active part in the creation and establishment of the Republic of Artsakh and was considered one of its main sponsors and the largest investor. His projects were implemented in Stepanakert and in the village of Vank Mardakert district of Artsakh, where a modern woodworking plant was built, a high-class hotel with Chinese cuisine, recreation areas, a school.

At the expense of the businessman in 2000-2002, the famous Armenian monastery Gandzasar (XIII century) was reconstructed, which at present is one of the most comfortable shrines of Artsakh. Also, Levon Hayrapetyan took over the construction of the section of the North-South highway, which runs near the Gandzasar monastery.

In 2007, Levon Hayrapetyan financed the construction of a reservoir with a capacity of up to 2.5 million cubic meters of water on the Khachen River in the Mardakert district of Artsakh. The construction of only one dam of 26 meters in height cost the patron of 7 million dollars. Around the future reservoir, the construction of tourist infrastructure and recreation areas was planned. «We will be able to solve several tasks at once — to obtain huge reserves of fresh water, to produce electricity, to provide work for the inhabitants of all nearby villages and to promote the development of tourism,» Hayrapetyan said.

In 2007, Levon Gurgenovich organized a visit to Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic by representatives of the Cossacks of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Transnistria, South Ossetia and Abkhazia as part of the celebration of the 225th anniversary of Lieutenant-General of the Russian Army, participant in the wars with Persia, Turkey and the Patriotic War of 1812 Valerian Madatov.

In 2008 he was the initiator and sponsor of the unprecedented wedding ceremony «The Great Artsakh Wedding». In this celebration, 700 couples took part, and each received a cow from the businessman and 2 thousand dollars. To conduct this ceremony, the «Levon Hayrapetyan» Foundation financed the overhaul of stair flights leading from the central Renaissance Square to the central stadium of Stepanakert.

«Our goal is to stimulate the demographic development in Karabakh. The population of the NKR should be at least 300,000, «Hayrapetyan said. «Each of the sponsors will be the godfather of several families, and the godfather — these are already certain obligations. In the name of the first child in the family will be transferred 2 thousand dollars, the second — 3 thousand, the third — 5 thousand, the fourth — 10 thousand, the fifth — 20 thousand, the sixth — 50 thousand and the seventh — 100 thousand dollars «.

In 2012, Levon Hayrapetyan implemented an important initiative and financed the construction of a military school named after Suvorov and Madatov in the village of Vank. All actions of Levon Gurgenovich were aimed at strengthening the statehood of both Armenia with Artsakh and Russia, since he was a great patriot of Russia.

However, the last years of Levon Hayrapetyan’s life were overshadowed by prejudiced and, in the opinion of many people, a customized prosecution. The businessman was sentenced to four years in a colony of the general regime. However, despite very big health problems, from oncology to hypertension, the court did not accept requests from lawyers or many respected figures of Russian culture, such as people’s artists Alexander Shirvindt and Mark Zakharov. In fact, as his treating doctors admitted, he was thrown into prison for certain death.

Diagnosed with bladder cancer, diabetes mellitus type 2, ischemic heart disease (he was administered 5 stents) and hypertension of the 3rd degree are included in the government list of diseases that prevent the serving of punishment in places of deprivation of liberty.

This unjust and immoral decision of the court was repeatedly appealed, but every time it was rejected. For example, in the Appeal of the Coordination Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations to the Moscow City Court of June 21, 2016, it was said: «In fact, having appointed L. Hayrapetyan, punishment with serving time in the colony, doomed this elderly person to a painful death, which, as we are sure, despite any accusations, this person did not deserve. In this regard, the Coordinating Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations expresses the hope that the Moscow City Court will take into account the principles of legality and humanism in respect of such a honored and respected person during the consideration of the case. » This Appeal was signed by 27 public organizations. But there was no reaction.

The last «chord» of Themis was delivered the day before his death. Levon Gurgenovich became ill, but he was not transferred to the hospital. It is symbolic that on that day a regular court session was to be held in Saransk (Mordovia). It is necessary to recognize the truth — such an inhuman attitude led an outstanding and seriously ill philanthropist to such a tragic outcome. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an investigation and to obtain prosecution of all officials who might have been involved in his death.

For the Armenian people, the light name of Levon Hayrapetyan has become forever a symbol of Honor and Nobility. He left unshaken and undefeated, as he had lived his whole life. The Armenian people will never forget this outstanding person and will remember his noble and very important deeds for the benefit of Armenia, Artsakh and Russia.

The funeral of Levon Hayrapetyan will be held in Moscow at the Armenian cemetery next to the grave of his parents, according to his wish.

The Coordinating Council of Russian-Armenian Organizations, along with the entire Armenian people, shares the sorrow and bitterness of the loss and expresses deep condolences to the family of Levon Gurgenovich Hayrapetyan.

COORDINATING COUNCIL OF RUSSIAN-ARMENIAN ORGANIZATIONS

October 19, 2017