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KARABAKH GENERAL PROSECUTOR ATTEMPTS TO WEED OUT CORRUPTION
Anahit Danielyan
hetq.am/en/karabakh/kakshatagh/
2009/05 /08 | 12:29
In November, 2006, Garnik Chobanyan, the village mayor of Hakari in the
Kashatagh district of Karabakh, made a trip to Berdzor to take receipt
of over two tons of diesel fuel. After signing the papers, they tell
Mr. Chobanyan that their reserves of diesel fuel have been depleted
and that there is only some 400 liters left. They advise the mayor to
take the 4oo liters and promise to deliver the balance when available.
During our recent trip to Hakari, the mayor told us that on his
frequent trips to obtain diesel fuel he was never given any. After this
incident the regional administration was twice changed. In 2008, the
current administration went to court to try and force Mr. Chobanyan
to pay the money for the diesel fuel he never obtained. Luckily,
the mayor was able to prove to the court that he had only received
400 liters of fuel.
As a result of these events, the losses sustained by the government
have never been recouped, nor have the court fees. As to where the
diesel destined for Hakari wound up is anybody's guess. Most probably
it was sold off and never reached its intended target.
Similar examples abound when a government official, who tries to cover
up his tracks after making an error or a dubious side deal, seeks to
accuse someone who is either totally innocent or more innocent than
he or she.
At a recent press conference, NKR General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan
spoke about a similar incident involving criminal charges against
Zhora Grigoryan, the district leader of Karvatchar, who was also the
director of "Trans-kar" Ltd. at the same time. The General Prosecutor
told reporters that the Karvatchar mayor carried out construction
work intended for the town through the company he owned and that as
a result some $6 million was pilfered.
The "Trans-kar" company is a government-run enterprise and naturally
Mr. Grigoryan didn't have the right to be mayor and company director
at the same time. Mr. Zhora Grigoryan isn't the one at fault here. It
is rather the government body that designated him "Trans-kar" director,
in violation of the law, which is to be held accountable.
Let us remind readers that in the first quarter of this year eleven
criminal cases of corruption were initiated. One involved the former
head of the Kashatagh Regional Authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, charges
with selling off government property.
General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan doesn't rule out the possibility
that this case will set a precedent to call all the former heads
of the regional authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, Hamlet Khachatryan,
and the others, to be held accountable for their actions.
Anahit Danielyan
hetq.am/en/karabakh/kakshatagh/
2009/05 /08 | 12:29
In November, 2006, Garnik Chobanyan, the village mayor of Hakari in the
Kashatagh district of Karabakh, made a trip to Berdzor to take receipt
of over two tons of diesel fuel. After signing the papers, they tell
Mr. Chobanyan that their reserves of diesel fuel have been depleted
and that there is only some 400 liters left. They advise the mayor to
take the 4oo liters and promise to deliver the balance when available.
During our recent trip to Hakari, the mayor told us that on his
frequent trips to obtain diesel fuel he was never given any. After this
incident the regional administration was twice changed. In 2008, the
current administration went to court to try and force Mr. Chobanyan
to pay the money for the diesel fuel he never obtained. Luckily,
the mayor was able to prove to the court that he had only received
400 liters of fuel.
As a result of these events, the losses sustained by the government
have never been recouped, nor have the court fees. As to where the
diesel destined for Hakari wound up is anybody's guess. Most probably
it was sold off and never reached its intended target.
Similar examples abound when a government official, who tries to cover
up his tracks after making an error or a dubious side deal, seeks to
accuse someone who is either totally innocent or more innocent than
he or she.
At a recent press conference, NKR General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan
spoke about a similar incident involving criminal charges against
Zhora Grigoryan, the district leader of Karvatchar, who was also the
director of "Trans-kar" Ltd. at the same time. The General Prosecutor
told reporters that the Karvatchar mayor carried out construction
work intended for the town through the company he owned and that as
a result some $6 million was pilfered.
The "Trans-kar" company is a government-run enterprise and naturally
Mr. Grigoryan didn't have the right to be mayor and company director
at the same time. Mr. Zhora Grigoryan isn't the one at fault here. It
is rather the government body that designated him "Trans-kar" director,
in violation of the law, which is to be held accountable.
Let us remind readers that in the first quarter of this year eleven
criminal cases of corruption were initiated. One involved the former
head of the Kashatagh Regional Authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, charges
with selling off government property.
General Prosecutor Arshavir Gharamyan doesn't rule out the possibility
that this case will set a precedent to call all the former heads
of the regional authority, Ernest Ghevondyan, Hamlet Khachatryan,
and the others, to be held accountable for their actions.