"I think he's a fraud — he robbed me"
People's Artist of the Russian Federation Oleg Gazmanov has lost a large sum of money. According to him, he gave his savings to businessman Gevorg Sargsyan, who was accused of fraud. The musician says that he gained the trust of the family and offered to invest in the project at a percentage. But six years later, Gazmanov received neither profits nor his savings back. The case reached the Investigative Committee. The actor has already testified. He told Izvestia the details of the scandalous story.
"I didn't see any interest or money"
In 2019, entrepreneur Gevorg Sargsyan invited Oleg Gazmanov to invest in the project, the singer recalls in an interview with Izvestia. He immediately admits that he is nervous. According to the musician, at first he refused the idea, but Sargsyan offered good interest. And there was no reason not to trust him.
— All this happened more than six years ago. To begin with, he met my youngest son, Philip. To some extent, they are business partners. And so he somehow came close to us, began to meet, communicate, and so on. And then he offered to invest in his project," the singer recalls.
Gazmanov was counting on a stable income that would provide a financial cushion for the future.
— He said it was for a children's program. It was an impressive presentation. Everything looked very solid. I gave him my money, which I had been earning for a very long time. I thought that such percentages were good and that someday I would retire and live," says the People's Artist.
According to Gazmanov, it was agreed that the loan would be returned to him in three years, but in the meantime he would receive the promised interest.
"I haven't seen any interest or money after six years," the actor says indignantly.
Sargsyan did not return the money, constantly finding an excuse — at first he explained the delays in payments by problems with cases due to the pandemic, then he wrote them off.
— He was leading us by the nose, as it turns out. Unfortunately, I think he's a fraud—he robbed me. It's all fixed. There are documents, bank statements," the artist concluded.
"I am one hundred percent sure that he will try to evade the investigation"
Realizing that they could be involved in a fraudulent scheme, the Gazmanovs filed a complaint with the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.
— In 2019, he (Sargsyan. — Ed.) made an offer to Oleg Mikhailovich to provide him with a large sum of money for some kind of investment in Kidzania parks. But at the same time, Oleg Mikhailovich did not invest anything himself. As a result of the conversation, he provided only a loan. This is important — there was no investment, it was a loan. Subsequently, probably a year and a half later, Oleg Mikhailovich and his wife, who also provided borrowed funds to Gevorg, asked to account for the loans, at least pay minor interest or return the funds. To which Gevorg Sargsyan, spreading his arms, replied: "I don't have any money," Roman Kuzmin, a lawyer for the Gazmanov family, explained the situation to Izvestia.
As a result, a criminal case was initiated under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Fraud committed on an especially large scale"). Gevorg Sargsyan was detained. The next court hearing is scheduled for September 24, but Oleg Gazmanov fears that he may flee the country.
— When he was detained, they tried to release him after a while. And if there had not been a new case from another person whom Sargsyan had also deceived, he would have been released. He's sitting down now, but I have very serious concerns. If he is released or placed under house arrest, then, of course, he will immediately flee to America. Gevorg is not a Russian citizen. He has a business and property in the USA. I am one hundred percent sure that he will try to evade the investigation," Gazmanov said.
Gevorg Sargsyan is a major Russian businessman, investor and ex-employee of the tax service. He was born in Armenia, graduated from the Faculty of World Economics of the Plekhanov Russian Academy of Economics, and worked for a long time in America.
Roman Kuzmin, Oleg Gazmanov's lawyer, added that due to the extreme complexity of the case, Gazmanov's side was forced to appeal to the chairmen of the Moscow City Court with a request to sort out what was happening.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
