Levon Hayrapetyan
MOSCOW—Noted philanthropist and businessman Levon Hayrapetyan died overnight on Wednesday in a Russian prison in Mordovia, where he was serving time on politically-motivated charges of alleged embezzlement and bribery. He was 68 and was in poor health ever since his arrest at the Moscow airport in 2014.
Hayrapetian, who made his fortune in Russia in the energy sector after the collapse of the Soviet Union, invested and donated millions of dollars in Armenia and Artsakh, and has made philanthropic contributions to Diaspora organizations.
His financial contributions and investments helped update Artsakh’s infrastructure and he financed the restoration of the 13th century Gandzasar Monastery in Artsakh. He is best known, however, for sponsoring a mass wedding of 700 couples in Artsakh in 2008. Aside from covering the cost of the weddings and the reception, he also gave each couple $2,500 to start their families.
His contributions and support for Artsakh and Armenia were unwavering and he became a respected and popular figure in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora.
The mass wedding that Hayrapetyan sponsored in Artsakh in 2008
“We have learned with deep sorrow in Artsakh about the death of prominent Armenian entrepreneur, great patriot and philanthropist, devoted son of our people Levon Hayrapetyan. The memory of Levon Hayrapetyan will always remain bright in the memory of generations,â€
