YEREVAN. – The State Commission for the Protection of Economic Competition (SCPEC) of Armenia does not fine individuals, but rather the business entities, SCPEC Chairman Artak Shaboyan on Tuesday told reporters at Parliament.

He noted the aforesaid reflecting on the fact that Ruling Republican Party of Armenia MP and businessman Samvel Aleksanyan does not deny that he counterfeits vodka.

In Shaboyan’s words, the banana market in Armenia is likewise at the focus of their respective inspections.

Commenting on the observation that Aleksanyan enjoys a monopoly in the country’s market, the SCPEC chief stated: “The Commission isn’t interested in who is the owner of which company and what his status is. We are speaking about companies, [and] business entities.”

As per Shaboyan, from the perspective of the law, there are dominant business position holders, but not monopolies, in Armenia. 

Artak Shaboyan recalled that SCPEC initiated eleven legal proceedings in the case into counterfeit vodkas, and brought the respective company to account.