Early life and education    Career in academia    Engagement in the ecological movement    Political activities    Public activities    Business and entrepreneurship    Current projects    Nairit plant    Other activities    Personal Life  
1. Notes

2. References

Ashot Vahe Grigoryan{{efn|Armenian: Աշոտ Վահեի Գրիգորյան, Russian: Ашот Вагеевич Григорян, Slovak: Ašot Grigorian}} (born November 30, 1950, in Yerevan) is a physicist (doctor of Science) businessman, public figure, philanthropist, founder and president of the EU-ASIA Business Finance Center Holding, president of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, co-president and director general of the Pan-European Centre for Political and Economic Analyses and Prognoses – Alliance for Peace Defence, chairman of the Armenian Community of the Slovak Republic.

Early life and education

Grigoryan was born on November 30, 1950, in Yerevan. From 1967 to 1972 he studied physics at Yerevan State University (YSU). From 1968 to 1972 Grigorian was a tenor at the most famous choir in the USSR and one of the most renowned in the world – the State National Academic Choir of Armenia led by Hovhannes Chekijyan and toured with it in the USSR and Europe.

Career in academia

Grigoryan worked as a scientific researcher at YSU and at the Institute for Physical Research of National Academy of Sciences of Armenia between 1972 and 1980. From 1981 to 1983 he studied postgraduate studies at the Russian State Hydrometeorological University in Saint-Petersburg under the supervision of famous scientist in the sphere of atmospheric physics – prof. Vitaly Morachevski and prepared dissertation for the degree of Candidate of Science in Physics and Mathematics on the topic "Research on the Air Pollution Potential". Grigoryan worked as a lecturer at Yerevan State University between 1980 and 1993. From 1985 to 1986 he was a visiting professor at Humboldt University of Berlin. Between 1989 and 1992 Grigoryan studied doctoral studies and prepared a doctoral dissertation on the theme "Geo-Ecological problems in Armenia" for the degree of Doctor of Science.

Engagement in the ecological movement

In the middle of 1980s, Grigoryan became known in professional international circles as a human rights activist in environmental issues. He was the founder of the ecological movement in Armenia in 1987. Grigoryan voiced the ecological problems^[1] [2] in Armenia through two press-conferences (organized on May 16 and June 16, 1987), public speeches, publications (а trilogy "Atmospheric alert"^[3] [4][5]    was published in "Garoon" monthly magazine), as well as interviews to local and international media. Meanwhile, some activists immediately shifted their attention to industrial objects that did not present environmental issues, and called for a closure of Nairit chemical plant, producing rubber, the Armenian nuclear power plant, the Institute of amino acids, etc. Grigoryan considered such actions as radical because according to him, the proponents of the closure of economically crucial objects did not realize the possible negative economic consequences of such steps.^[6] He admitted that to some extent these objects negatively affected the ecosystem. However, Grigoryan was of opinion that these enterprises were vital for the Armenian economy,^[7] and their closure would not only lead to a destruction of tens of thousands of jobs and a noticeable increase in unemployment, but also to a huge budget deficit in the country. Later "Ecotech scientific production association"^{[8][9][10][11]} was founded by him (1988). He was also the founder and host of the TV program "Environmental problems" on the Armenian television to voice and cover the ecological problems in Armenian from a scientific perspective (1987-1993). He was interviewed by known international mass-media representatives (Jonathan Steel,^[12][13] the British "The Guardian"; Af Richard Bisgaard,^[14] the Danish "Dagens"; Af Kirsten Bruun^[15] , the Danish "Morgenavisen Jyllands-posten"; André Roelofs, the Dutch "deVolkskrant"; Elfie Siegl, the German "Frankfurter Allgemeinen Zeitung", "Frankfurter Rundschau", "RIAS"; Raymond Löwe, the Austrian "ORF eins"; the US "The California Courier" and other world known media) on a wide range of topics, such as economic and environmental issues, energy supply sources, etc. On February 20, 1988, along with colleagues Grigoryan organized the first major ecological rally in front of the Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Yerevan. Later it turned into protests for the independence of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and became the beginning of the movement for the independence of Armenia from the USSR. Grigoryan became a new era dissident and started fighting with fake customs, morals, and manners forming in Armenia, as well as the political system, established to destroy the industrial sphere and possessing corruption potential. Due to political persecution by the Armenian authorities, and particularly, by the then president of the Republic of Armenia and minister of Interior, Grigoryan, along with his family, was enforced to leave Armenia for Slovakia (March 1993), where he lives up to now.   

Political activities

Grigoryan contributed to the establishment and development of official relationships between Slovakia and Armenia after settling in Slovakia in the 1990s.

In 1999, he facilitated the first official visit of Prosecutor General of Slovakia Milan Hanzel and the First Deputy of Prosecutor General Martin Lauko to Armenia, which was followed by the visit of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia to Slovakia. Grigoryan promoted the visit of the Deputy Mayor of Bratislava Pavol Minarik to Yerevan and the visit of the Deputy Mayor of Yerevan to Bratislava in 2000, as well as of the visits of the former prime minister and the then minister of justice Ján Čarnogurský to Armenia, which was followed by the visit of the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia to Slovakia in 2001. A year later the visit of leaders of the then ruling HZDS Party of Slovakia to Armenia took place by the initiative of Grigoryan (2002).

Grigoryan initiated and carried out the lobbying of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the National Council of Slovakia, and it was adopted by the Slovak parliamentarians on November 30, 2004.^{[16][17][18][19][20][21]}  

In 2005, Grigoryan opened the Armenian cross-stone in the center of Bratislava, dedicated to the adoption of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide by the National Council of Slovakia.

The visit of the then Minister of Justice of Slovakia Štefan Harabin to Armenia took place on the initiative of Grigoryan (2008). In 2009, the resolution criminalizing the denial of genocide was promoted by Grigoryan and proposed by the Minister of Justice of Slovakia Štefan Harabin to the National Council of Slovakia, where it was adopted by the parliamentarians, and then the law was ratified by the prime-minister and the president of Slovakia. Starting from September 1, 2009, the Criminal Code of the Slovak Republic establishes punishment for any act justifying the Holocaust, fascism, communism, and genocide (including the Armenian Genocide), if it is committed unconsciously – 3 years in prison, and if deliberately – 5 years. Slovakia is the first country in the world to adopt a law penalizing both the denial of the Holocaust and the genocide (including the Armenian Genocide).

He also organized the visit of the Chairman of the Supreme Court of Slovakia to Armenia, which was followed by the visits of the Chairmen of the Court of Cassation and of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia to Slovakia (2009).

In general, Grigoryan promoted a number of other visits of the Slovak and Armenian high officials.

Public activities

Grigoryan is the Chairman of the Armenian Community of Slovakia from 1999, and he has been a member of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe since 2002.

He was appointed as the President of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe in 2008, which turned into a powerful lobbying structure, promoting the interests of Armenia and Artsakh in Europe and worldwide.

In 2013, at the request of His Holiness Karekin II, Grigoryan arranged the acquisition of the oldest (13th century) church in the center of Bratislava, which is to serve the Armenians in Slovakia.

As the president of the Forum of Armenian Associations of Europe, he organized a congress dedicated to the 15th anniversary of the FAAE in 2013. Since 2013, Grigoryan was actively engaged in the political life of Armenia and consolidated Armenian communities and organizations in Europe to contribute to the resolution of the political and economic problems in Armenia, as well as to assist to the improvement of the inter-political situation in Armenia.  

In 2014, together with the former prime minister of Slovakia Ján Čarnogurský, Grigoryan founded "Pan-European Center for Political and Economic Analysis and Prognoses – Alliance for Peace Defense" (PANAP).^[22] Currently, he holds the positions of the director general and co-president of PANAP, which is to promote the development of the relationships between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In general, it serves as a platform for experts for discourses and brainstorms to facilitate the political and economic relationships between the European Union and EAEU.

Business and entrepreneurship

As the director general of Energy Consult s.r.o., which runs a business in the sphere of energetic, Grigoryan was engaged in the construction of a hydropower station in Artsakh between 2010 and 2012. In 2016, he founded EU-ASIA Business Finance Center Holding, and currently, Grigoryan holds the position of the president. The Holding carries out business activities and investment programs to recover and reindustrialize the Armenian economy, as well as to strengthen the economic relationships between Slovakia and Armenia.

Current projects

Grigoryan actively supports the restoration of the real sector of the Armenian economy. The Holding headed by Grigoryan is interested in the reoperation of the former chemical industry giant Nairit plant^[23] , which has not been operated since 2010. In addition, the Holding has investment programs in the spheres of IT, defence industry (laser technics and other optical devices), as well as generally in the chemical sector.

Nairit plant

In 2014, Grigoryan started fighting against the destruction of the "Nairit Plant" CJSC and on behalf of the EU-ASIA Business Finance Center Holding, he started negotiations with the Government of Armenia to restart Nairit. The process to analyze the technical condition and the possibilities to restart the plant has not been going smoothly. The Holding encountered obstacles during the audit it initiated at Nairit in 2018. In addition, the Holding has investment programs in the spheres of IT, laser technics, as well as generally in the chemical sector, etc.

Other activities

In 2003, Grigoryan organized the first Pan-Armenian Media Forum in Bratislava.

Between 2000 and 2014, he organized business forums for European businessmen in Armenia.

From 2004 to 2008, Grigoryan was the adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia.

Between 2008 and 2012, he headed sessions in thematic discussions on the South Caucasus at the European Economic Forum (Krynica, Poland).

Since 2014, Grigoryan organized a number of international conferences and symposiums:

Personal Life

Grigoryan was married to famous pianist Hasmik Gabrielyan, who died in June 2017 after a long illness. He has two daughters and a grandson.

Notes

References

• Brand Book
• Brandbu
• Brandchannel
• Brand community
• Brand Corporation
• Brand culture
• Branddasker
• Brand development index
• Brandeau
• Brande chastain
• Branded content
• Branded (Dad's Army)
• Branded environment
• Branded Man
• Branded Orange Awlet
• Branded to kill
• Brandee Burton
• Brandee McCoskey
• Brandegea
• Brandegea bigelovii
• Brande-Hörnerkirchen
• Brandeis-Bardin Institute
• Brandeis Brief
• Brandeis Brokers
• Brandeis Emergency Medical Corps