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ARMENIA'S SECOND PRESIDENT RELEASES STATEMENT ON FORMER FM CASE
news.am
October 03, 2012 | 12:31
YEREVAN. - Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan issued a
statement with reference to the removal of The Civilitas Foundation
founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan Oskanian's
parliamentary immunity.
"What do the NSS [National Security Service], Prosecutor General's
Office and the parliament have to do with the good-neighborly relations
[among] John Huntsman, Vartan Oskanian, and The Civilitas Foundation
he founded?
This is a case of the parliament discrediting itself, [together]
with the adverse consequences to the country's standing.
Vartan Oskanian was one of the most successful ministers and an
Armenian politician who withstood the test of the authorities. He is
effective and noble. He is exceptionally righteous. Such people need
to be cherished and not persecuted, especially since he represents a
[political] party with a very considerable electorate.
The absurdity of this entire story is disappointing.
I regret what happened and extend my goodwill and support to Vartan
Oskanian," Robert Kocharyan's statement reads in particular.
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.
news.am
October 03, 2012 | 12:31
YEREVAN. - Armenia's second President Robert Kocharyan issued a
statement with reference to the removal of The Civilitas Foundation
founder, former FM, and Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vartan Oskanian's
parliamentary immunity.
"What do the NSS [National Security Service], Prosecutor General's
Office and the parliament have to do with the good-neighborly relations
[among] John Huntsman, Vartan Oskanian, and The Civilitas Foundation
he founded?
This is a case of the parliament discrediting itself, [together]
with the adverse consequences to the country's standing.
Vartan Oskanian was one of the most successful ministers and an
Armenian politician who withstood the test of the authorities. He is
effective and noble. He is exceptionally righteous. Such people need
to be cherished and not persecuted, especially since he represents a
[political] party with a very considerable electorate.
The absurdity of this entire story is disappointing.
I regret what happened and extend my goodwill and support to Vartan
Oskanian," Robert Kocharyan's statement reads in particular.
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.