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CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST EX-ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN CLOSED
Interfax, Russia
July 24 2013
YEREVAN. July 24
The Armenian National Security Service has closed a criminal case
against former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.
"The criminal case that was opened earlier on money laundering charges
was re-qualified as large-scale tax evasion. Taking into account
that Oskanian voluntarily paid his tax obligations, a decision has
been made to close his criminal prosecution," the Armenian National
Security Service told Interfax.
The National Security Service's investigations department opened a
criminal case against Oskanian on money laundering charges in summer
2012, claiming that the Civilitas Foundation headed by Oskanian
legalized large-scale criminal proceeds.
In particular, the investigation was opened into the sale by Civilitas
of its 100% share worth $2 million to the Armenian-based organization
Huntsman Building Products belonging to the U.S. corporations Polymer
Materials and Huntsman International.
"On July 19, 2013, the former Armenian foreign minister made a
statement and testified that he used $250,795, which was donated by
Huntsman International head John Huntsman exclusively for charity
purposes, for his personal needs, seeing this sum as his share from
the deal," the National Security Service said.
Oskanian also paid an income tax on this sum calculated by the State
Revenue Committee to the Armenian national budget.
Oskanian earlier denied the charges brought against him, saying that
he was being politically persecuted. He also insisted that the money
donated by Huntsman International was not spent and the corporation
did not have any complaints.
Oskanian served as foreign minister under President Robert Kocharian
from 1998 to 2008. After Serzh Sargsyan's victory in the 2008
presidential elections, Oskanian resigned and set up the Civilitas
Foundation dealing with human rights, democracy and civil society
matters.
va
From: Baghdasarian
Interfax, Russia
July 24 2013
YEREVAN. July 24
The Armenian National Security Service has closed a criminal case
against former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.
"The criminal case that was opened earlier on money laundering charges
was re-qualified as large-scale tax evasion. Taking into account
that Oskanian voluntarily paid his tax obligations, a decision has
been made to close his criminal prosecution," the Armenian National
Security Service told Interfax.
The National Security Service's investigations department opened a
criminal case against Oskanian on money laundering charges in summer
2012, claiming that the Civilitas Foundation headed by Oskanian
legalized large-scale criminal proceeds.
In particular, the investigation was opened into the sale by Civilitas
of its 100% share worth $2 million to the Armenian-based organization
Huntsman Building Products belonging to the U.S. corporations Polymer
Materials and Huntsman International.
"On July 19, 2013, the former Armenian foreign minister made a
statement and testified that he used $250,795, which was donated by
Huntsman International head John Huntsman exclusively for charity
purposes, for his personal needs, seeing this sum as his share from
the deal," the National Security Service said.
Oskanian also paid an income tax on this sum calculated by the State
Revenue Committee to the Armenian national budget.
Oskanian earlier denied the charges brought against him, saying that
he was being politically persecuted. He also insisted that the money
donated by Huntsman International was not spent and the corporation
did not have any complaints.
Oskanian served as foreign minister under President Robert Kocharian
from 1998 to 2008. After Serzh Sargsyan's victory in the 2008
presidential elections, Oskanian resigned and set up the Civilitas
Foundation dealing with human rights, democracy and civil society
matters.
va
From: Baghdasarian