TWIN BROTHERS

The President of Georgia Michael Sahakashvili declared from the pulpit of PACE yesterday that he was happy that he was in this structure together with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko. According to Sahakashvili the revolutions of "roses" and "orange" were similar and one of happy moments of his life was when he was standing close to Yushchenko. The President of Georgia also predicted that movement would grow.

THE FEAR OF THE OLIGARCH

In addition to the Armenian issues PACE listened to the report of German representative Sabina Loithoizer- Shnarrenberger on "UCOS case" on Tuesday and accepted a resolution on the given issue. It is mentioned in that resolution that all facts presented in the report "arouse serious suspicions in procedure infringements", which were made toward the former leaders of UCOS, and also suspect on objectivity of Russian authorities. And more according to PACE members besides UCOS other petroleum companies of Russia also used the practice of avoiding of taxes. But no criminal case was brought against the leaders of those companies. In short Russia was given a big flick. And the main reason of it was that Russia chose the laws selectively. If the Russian authorities brought criminal cases to all wealthy taxpayers that avoided of paying taxes and not only against Khodorkovski nobody would think that was a political persecution. In this case our Armenian oligarchs are protected completely: let any representative of the authority try to accuse them of not paying taxes, they will hurry to the West and complain with tears on their faces that they are political outcasts. By the way they will be accepted with open arms.
But the oligarchs in Armenia never have conflicts with the authorities. None of our oligarchs is sure in stability of his business and incomes to make bold to come out against the current administrative staff. So Armenia isn't threatened in the foreign political area in this context. It's a pity that PACE, which protects such zealously the rights of oligarchs in new democratic countries doesn't notice at all that nobody becomes rich in those countries beside the chamber businessmen. Instead of protecting the oligarchs from the authorities PACE must ask why the same authorities prevent the prosperity of common citizens in Russia and especially in Armenia. If the authorities allow anyone to prosper it isn't for their beautiful eyes. Here is the clue why Khodorkovsky was punished so cruelly and what kind of punishments may the Armenian oligarchs expect if they dare to start their independent game.