In response to the first series of questions submitted to it by Mediapart, the private “family” office representing Sergei and Nikolai Sarkisov sent this statement by email on November 13th 2020:
“We are honored to confirm that M. Sarkozy agreed to accept a nomination as the Special Advisor and the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council to the Board of RESO Garantia. RESO is an insurance joint venture between AXA and the Sarkisovs founding family. This appointment was disclosed to public authorities in France and elsewhere consistent with any applicable requirement.
In his capacity as the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council, M. Sarkozy is involved in ongoing major multinational projects, all of which are commercial ventures entirely outside France, which do not involve any government or governmental agencies.
We would like to stress that the work of M. Sarkozy and his team is limited strictly to RESO. He has no involvement whatsoever in any private matter of our family.
We were honored to be introduced to M. Sarkozy at the beginning of 2019 when the projects were in the makings. M. Sarkozy was appointed Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council in July 2019. Any questions that relate to prior periods are by definition irrelevant.
Sergey Sarkisov has indeed retired in Monaco after completing his senior diplomatic career as Armenian Consul General in Los Angeles, California in 2018. Sergey was a Monegasque resident since 2010, i.e. prior to commencing his diplomatic posting to the USA. Mr S Sarkisov served the largest Armenian-origin community in the US for over 5 years and was decorated by Armenian government with highest national honors for his diplomatic service.
Nikolai Sarkisov served Armenian nation in Lyon as the Consular General. He has since retired and shares his time between various countries, whist continuing to support Armenia.
Sarkozy and his team are giving valuable advice on commercial topics. We take no interest in French politics or in any kind of politics generally.
The Office of Sergey and Nikolai Sarkisovs.”
Following a further list of questions submitted to it by Mediapart, the private office representing Sergei and Nikolai Sarkisov sent this second statement by email on January 14th 2021:
“We have not seen this article in AFP. We have read the English translation now, but we do not see Mr Sarkisov being mentioned there. The article refers to the Corsican entrepreneur who is a real estate developer in Courchevel (presumably, Mr Susini) and a response by his lawyer which rejects the allegations. The investigation (if one actually exists) has nothing to do with the Sarkisovs.
Sergey Sarkisov retired from his post as Consular General of Armenia in Los Angeles on 21/08/2018, i.e. after exactly 5 years in this senior diplomatic posting. Upon his retirement Sergey Sarkisov received the highest personal commendation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia in the Government led by His Excellency Prime Minister Pashinian for his service to the nation and, in particular, for his efforts in global recognition of Armenian Genocide (see attached). Mr Sarkisov has also been decorated by the Order of Honour of Armenia by the President of Armenia for his extraordinary achievements in public service, and received multiple appreciations for his consular activities from state and public institutions of the State of California and Los Angeles County. Any suggestion that Mr Sarkisov did anything improper, or was in breach of any regulation, or received any criticism from the Government, is therefore entirely false and fictitious.
Since his retirement Mr Sergey Sarkisov dedicated his time to global fight against racism, anti-semitism and genocide. His documentary dedicated to genocide was nominated to Emmy Award in 2018. His other documentary dedicated to the fight against anti-semitism received Emmy Award in 2020. See https://en.armradio.am/2020/07/28/film-co-produced-by-russian-armenian-billionaire-sergey-sarkisov-wins-emmy-award/.
You will note that the press articles you refer to below are dated 25 April 2019. Yet, you will also note that Mr Nikolay Sarkisov continued to work as Consul General of Armenia in Lyon well after this date. And even after his retirement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia continues to use as the Consulate the property that he originally acquired for the use of Armenian government. As you are no doubt aware, Armenia is not the world's wealthiest nation and accepts support from the global Armenian diaspora. As you appreciate, if Armenian authorities were to have an issue with the use of the Consulate building they would have long discontinued it and returned it to Mr Sarkisov. But the facts speak right to the contrary - the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to use the building for the originally intended diplomatic purpose long after Mr Sarkisov retired.”
In response to the second series of questions from Mediapart, the head of public and media relations for the RESO-Garantia group sent the following statement by email on January 14th 2021:
“Mr Sarkozy has no involvement in any family matter whatsoever. His work is limited to RESO Garantia, as the Family Office advised you on 13 November 2020.
In response to your additional queries:
Contrary to what you write below (see your question 1), Mr Sarkozy was never "hired by Sergey and Nikolay Sarkisovs". Mr Sarkozy accepted a nomination to become Special Advisor and the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council to the Board of RESO Garantia. This is stated in clear terms in the original response on 13 November 2020 from the Family Office.
RESO Garantia is a major insurance joint venture between AXA and the Sarkisovs founding family and is the largest motor insurer in Russia. Based on latest IFRS reports RESO Garantia has equity of over EUR 1 billion and annual revenues of over EUR 1.2 billion. The company serves over 10 million clients through a network of 30 000 + agents and also serves major global corporations (among these Achan, Danone, Renault, Ferrero, Pernod Ricard, PepsiCo, Henkel, DHL, Bayer, Teva, Siemens, Air Liquide). AXA became a joint venture partner over 10 years ago and has relevant Board representation.
Sergey and Nikolay Sarkisovs are not and have not been Board members of RESO Garantia since 2013 when they stepped down from all business duties due to their consular appointments. Since then they dedicated all their time end efforts to Armenian diplomacy and charitable causes for the benefit of Armenia and Armenian diaspora. Sergey Sarkisov retains honorary title of President Emeritus of RESO Garantia, but is no longer involved in the management of the business. Therefore, any suggestion that Mr Sarkozy is advising the Sarkisovs as Board members is equally false since they are not Board members at least for the last 7 years.
The work of Mr Sarkozy and his team is limited strictly to RESO Garantia as a corporation, which - again - is a major French-Russian joint venture. Mr Sarkozy has no involvement whatsoever in any matter that concerns the Sarkisovs personal or family matters outside RESO Garantia, and any allegation to the contrary is outright false.
Mr Sarkozy is not (and has never been) a member of the Board of RESO Garantia. His involvement in RESO corporation is as Special Advisor and the Chair of the Strategic Advisory Council to the Board.
The Council involves several other highly professional members and is supported by a top legal and finance team in its work on the projects. RESO does not disclose other members of the Council due to the non-public nature of their work.
In our experience at RESO, Mr Sarkozy is a superb negotiator and fine lawyer, and uses these qualities to assist in commercial discussions. We at RESO are very pleased with the progress that has been made on commercial matters where Mr Sarkozy has been involved.
RESO does not (and as a matter of law cannot) disclose the nature of the projects, inter alia, for regulatory reasons related to capital markets. As you are no doubt aware, capital markets laws are quite strict in what can and cannot be disclosed to media.”