Minister: Rumors about Armavia's 40 mln USD "air tax" debt have nothing to do with reality

 The rumors about the 40 mln USD "air tax" debt of Armenia's national air carrier Armavia have nothing to do with the reality, Armenian Finance Minister David Sargsyan said in Parliament on Wednesday. 

To note, according to the rumors, over the past three years the company failed to pay nearly 35-40 mln USD "air tax" to the state. The minister pointed out that the air company really has debts and not only to the state. At the moment various creditors have applied to various courts to make Armavia carry out its payment obligations. The Armenian State Revenue Committee has also applied to the court. It is the courts that will determine the amount of Armavia's debts, the minister said.    

To note, Armavia has launched bankruptcy procedure and suspended its flights. It owes its creditors, including VTB Bank. The Bank sues Armavia and its owner Mikhail Bagdasarov, the owner of Mika Limited. According to different estimations, Armavia's debts range from 50 mln to 110 mln USD. In his recent interview with ArmInfo, Bagdasarov said that the statements about Armavia's 127 mln USD debt are exaggerated.  "We simply wanted to sell the air company for the specified amount, which contains the company's debts, investments, profit, as well as the amount that should be coming to me", he said.