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GERMAN AMBASSADOR TO CAREFULLY FOLLOW ARMENIA'S FORMER FM CASE
news.am
October 03, 2012 | 13:39
YEREVAN. - Germany's newly-appointed Ambassador to Armenia, Reiner
Morell, intends to carefully follow the case concerning The Civilitas
Foundation founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan
Oskanian. The Ambassador himself stated this during a press conference
on Wednesday.
The diplomat noted that he is informed of this case and that the
Prosecutor General's Office must find out whether or not Oskanian
had made a mistake. But at the same he recalled the principle of
"presumption of innocence." "Vartan Oskanian must be able to present
his arguments and explanations," the Ambassador noted.
Morell also noted that the ensuing reaction is definitely linked with
the person of Oskanian, since he still is "an important person within
the society."
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: A. Papazian
news.am
October 03, 2012 | 13:39
YEREVAN. - Germany's newly-appointed Ambassador to Armenia, Reiner
Morell, intends to carefully follow the case concerning The Civilitas
Foundation founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan
Oskanian. The Ambassador himself stated this during a press conference
on Wednesday.
The diplomat noted that he is informed of this case and that the
Prosecutor General's Office must find out whether or not Oskanian
had made a mistake. But at the same he recalled the principle of
"presumption of innocence." "Vartan Oskanian must be able to present
his arguments and explanations," the Ambassador noted.
Morell also noted that the ensuing reaction is definitely linked with
the person of Oskanian, since he still is "an important person within
the society."
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: A. Papazian