Gagik Tsarukyan
Gagik Tsarukyan (Armenian: Գագիկ Ծառուկյան; born 25 November 1956) is an Armenian businessman, politician, and former athlete. Tsarukyan is the founder and leader of the Prosperous Armenia political party. He also owns various large-scale businesses and is believed to be one of the richest men in Armenia.
Gagik Tsarukyan | |
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Tsarukyan in 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 November 1956 Arinj, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Political party | Prosperous Armenia |
| Spouse | Javahir Tsarukyan |
| Children | 6 |
| Alma mater | Yerevan Institute of Physical Culture |
| Website | Official website |
Announcing his departure from politics for a hiatus in February 2015, he announced his return to politics in January 2017, forming the parliamentary Tsarukyan Alliance, an electoral alliance made up of Prosperous Armenia, the Alliance Party and the Mission Party. During the 2018 Armenian parliamentary election, Prosperous Armenia obtained 8.26% of the popular vote, coming in second and becoming the largest opposition party in parliament.
An avid sportsman, he practiced boxing, wrestling and arm wrestling, becoming world champion in arm-wrestling in 1996 and winning the European championship in 1998. Tsarukyan is also the president of Armenia's National Olympic Committee (he was reelected on December 4, 2008).
In July 2020 he was formally charged with bribery and corruption, right after the National Assembly voted for his immunity from prosecution as a member of parliament to be revoked.