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ARMENIAN FORMER FM CASE AIMED AT PAP LEADER AND SECOND PRESIDENT - POLITICAL SCIENTIST
news.am
October 04, 2012 | 12:10
YEREVAN. - The processes in connection with The Civilitas Foundation
founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Vartan
Oskanian are directed at others such as PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan and
second President Robert Kocharyan, Regional Studies Center Director,
political analyst Richard Giragosian said during a press conference
on Thursday.
As per Giragosian, the first noteworthy factor on this case is the
principle of "presumption of innocence." "The Government has to
take steps to prove that Oskanian is innocent. Even the Prosecutor
General doesn't understand the real meaning of the case. This is
not money laundering; it has never been and will not be such," the
analyst maintained.
The second factor which Richard Giragosian stressed is the timing,
which is very suspicious. "Yes, this is a politicized process,"
he noted.
The political scientist's third conclusion is that there are lots
more and more serious violations committed by the MPs in parliament,
specifically by the oligarchs. Giragosian believes this is a test
for Armenia's rule of law and for its international standing and
reputation.
"The Armenian Government is intentionally or unintentionally elevating
Oskanian as a political victim. [And Prosecutor General] Aghvan
Hovsepyan is intentionally or unintentionally helping Oskanian in
the presidential elections [next year]," Richard Giragosian said.
As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the National Assembly on
Tuesday voted-by 64 ballots for, six against, and with one invalid
vote-in favor of Prosecutor General's petition to include Vartan
Oskanian as a defendant in a criminal lawsuit. A total of 71 MPs
participated in the voting.
To note, on May 25 the National Security Service (NSS) Department of
Investigation filed a criminal lawsuit on charges of money laundering
with respect to The Civilitas Foundation.
The NSS Press Center had informed that an investigation is underway
in connection with selling the 100-percent shares of the Huntsman
Building Products Company for around $2 million, but not informing
Armenia's tax authorities about this business deal; not using for
charitable purposes $1,135,000 of that amount envisioned for charity;
transferring this amount to the bank accounts opened under the names
of the Civilitas Foundation's founder Vartan Oskanian, and of the
Foundation's Board of Trustees member Tigran Karapetyan; and using
some of this amount for private purposes.
In addition, as per the NSS Press Center, The Civilitas Foundation
had not presented a report on the $2 million allocated for charitable
purposes. In his turn, Vartan Oskanian considers the charges to be
politically motivated.
The Civilitas Foundation was founded in 2008 by Vartan Oskanian. After
joining Prosperous Armenia Party ahead of the May 6 parliamentary
elections, however, Oskanian gave up his post as the Foundation
Chairman.
From: Baghdasarian
news.am
October 04, 2012 | 12:10
YEREVAN. - The processes in connection with The Civilitas Foundation
founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Vartan
Oskanian are directed at others such as PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan and
second President Robert Kocharyan, Regional Studies Center Director,
political analyst Richard Giragosian said during a press conference
on Thursday.
As per Giragosian, the first noteworthy factor on this case is the
principle of "presumption of innocence." "The Government has to
take steps to prove that Oskanian is innocent. Even the Prosecutor
General doesn't understand the real meaning of the case. This is
not money laundering; it has never been and will not be such," the
analyst maintained.
The second factor which Richard Giragosian stressed is the timing,
which is very suspicious. "Yes, this is a politicized process,"
he noted.
The political scientist's third conclusion is that there are lots
more and more serious violations committed by the MPs in parliament,
specifically by the oligarchs. Giragosian believes this is a test
for Armenia's rule of law and for its international standing and
reputation.
"The Armenian Government is intentionally or unintentionally elevating
Oskanian as a political victim. [And Prosecutor General] Aghvan
Hovsepyan is intentionally or unintentionally helping Oskanian in
the presidential elections [next year]," Richard Giragosian said.
As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, the National Assembly on
Tuesday voted-by 64 ballots for, six against, and with one invalid
vote-in favor of Prosecutor General's petition to include Vartan
Oskanian as a defendant in a criminal lawsuit. A total of 71 MPs
participated in the voting.
To note, on May 25 the National Security Service (NSS) Department of
Investigation filed a criminal lawsuit on charges of money laundering
with respect to The Civilitas Foundation.
The NSS Press Center had informed that an investigation is underway
in connection with selling the 100-percent shares of the Huntsman
Building Products Company for around $2 million, but not informing
Armenia's tax authorities about this business deal; not using for
charitable purposes $1,135,000 of that amount envisioned for charity;
transferring this amount to the bank accounts opened under the names
of the Civilitas Foundation's founder Vartan Oskanian, and of the
Foundation's Board of Trustees member Tigran Karapetyan; and using
some of this amount for private purposes.
In addition, as per the NSS Press Center, The Civilitas Foundation
had not presented a report on the $2 million allocated for charitable
purposes. In his turn, Vartan Oskanian considers the charges to be
politically motivated.
The Civilitas Foundation was founded in 2008 by Vartan Oskanian. After
joining Prosperous Armenia Party ahead of the May 6 parliamentary
elections, however, Oskanian gave up his post as the Foundation
Chairman.
From: Baghdasarian