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RULING PARTY DENIES LINKS BETWEEN ARMENIAN PRESIDENT AND THIEF-IN-LAW
Interfax
Oct 19 2010
Russia
Ruling party denies links between Armenian president and thief-in-law
Armenia's ruling Republican Party (HKK) has denied rumors about
alleged links between President Serzh Sargsian and Armen Kazarian,
a thief-in law who has been arrested in the United States.
"Absurd, ridiculous, false information a million kilometers from
reality," Eduard Sharmazanov, secretary of the Sargsian-led HKK's
parliamentary faction, told Interfax on Monday.
Earlier, Viktor Sogomonian, chief of staff of the country's
ex-President Robert Kocharian, dismissed allegations that the latter
had close ties with Kazarian.
"This is absurd. Naturally, I deny such rumors," Sogomonian told
Interfax.
He also denied that Kazarian had been among the guests at Kocharian's
son wedding.
Last week, the opposition Armenian National Congress accused the
current and former governments of connection with crime bosses,
including Kazarian.
On October 13, more than 40 members of a crime syndicate led by a
group of Armenian immigrants and citizens of Armenia were arrested
in New York and Los Angeles.
The syndicate stole about $163 million from a health insurance fund,
Medicare, by submitting fraudulent claims from 118 phantom medical
clinics in 25 U.S. states.
According to a U.S. prosecutor, the syndicate's bosses maintained close
ties with Armenia, repeatedly travelling there and buying real estate.
Earlier, the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office voiced offered
assistance in investigating the case. The Armenian Foreign Ministry
voiced readiness to cooperate and regretted the fact that Armenian
citizens were among the criminals.
From: A. Papazian
Interfax
Oct 19 2010
Russia
Ruling party denies links between Armenian president and thief-in-law
Armenia's ruling Republican Party (HKK) has denied rumors about
alleged links between President Serzh Sargsian and Armen Kazarian,
a thief-in law who has been arrested in the United States.
"Absurd, ridiculous, false information a million kilometers from
reality," Eduard Sharmazanov, secretary of the Sargsian-led HKK's
parliamentary faction, told Interfax on Monday.
Earlier, Viktor Sogomonian, chief of staff of the country's
ex-President Robert Kocharian, dismissed allegations that the latter
had close ties with Kazarian.
"This is absurd. Naturally, I deny such rumors," Sogomonian told
Interfax.
He also denied that Kazarian had been among the guests at Kocharian's
son wedding.
Last week, the opposition Armenian National Congress accused the
current and former governments of connection with crime bosses,
including Kazarian.
On October 13, more than 40 members of a crime syndicate led by a
group of Armenian immigrants and citizens of Armenia were arrested
in New York and Los Angeles.
The syndicate stole about $163 million from a health insurance fund,
Medicare, by submitting fraudulent claims from 118 phantom medical
clinics in 25 U.S. states.
According to a U.S. prosecutor, the syndicate's bosses maintained close
ties with Armenia, repeatedly travelling there and buying real estate.
Earlier, the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office voiced offered
assistance in investigating the case. The Armenian Foreign Ministry
voiced readiness to cooperate and regretted the fact that Armenian
citizens were among the criminals.
From: A. Papazian