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ARMENIA'S AUTHORITIES MAKING POLITICAL VICTIM OF EX-FM - EXPERT
tert.am
04.10.12
According to Richard Giragosian, Director of the Regional Studies
Center (RSC), five factors account for the charges brought against
Armenia's ex-FM Vartan Oskanian.
The first is the presumption of innocence. That is, it is the
authorities' responsibility to prove him guilty, Giragosian told
a press conference on Thursday. This case is a test for Armenia,
he added.
Armenia is thus presenting itself to the world: either as a country
of law or as not one. The final decision will influence Armenia's
international reputation.
Even Armenia's prosecutor general does not understand the reasons
for bringing charges against Vartan Oskanian. If one listens to his
disappointing speech, one can see Aghvan Hovsepyan himself does not
understand the real nature of the case. That is, it has never been
money laundering, Giragosian said.
One more important factor is the time the charges were brought against
Oskanian - it clearly shows this is a politicized process. The
discussion of the prosecutor general's petition can hardly be
understood - a number of oligarchs who committed even graver violations
are among the MPs.
According to the expert, the charges are actually not only against
Oskanian and his Civilitas Foundations, but also against others -
Gagik Tsarukyan, Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP),
and Robert Kocharyan, Armenia's second president.
The parliament's discussion of Vartan Oskanian's case caused new
developments. Armenia's government, with or without intention, is
making a political victim of Vartan Oskanian. In his turn, with or
without intention, Armenia's prosecutor general is supporting Oskanian
in his election campaign.
According to Giragosian, Armenia's authorities are neither critical
nor supportive of Oskanian. The expert himself is for the presumption
of innocence in Vartan Oskanian's case. He believes it is the Armenian
authorities' responsibility to prove him guilty.
tert.am
04.10.12
According to Richard Giragosian, Director of the Regional Studies
Center (RSC), five factors account for the charges brought against
Armenia's ex-FM Vartan Oskanian.
The first is the presumption of innocence. That is, it is the
authorities' responsibility to prove him guilty, Giragosian told
a press conference on Thursday. This case is a test for Armenia,
he added.
Armenia is thus presenting itself to the world: either as a country
of law or as not one. The final decision will influence Armenia's
international reputation.
Even Armenia's prosecutor general does not understand the reasons
for bringing charges against Vartan Oskanian. If one listens to his
disappointing speech, one can see Aghvan Hovsepyan himself does not
understand the real nature of the case. That is, it has never been
money laundering, Giragosian said.
One more important factor is the time the charges were brought against
Oskanian - it clearly shows this is a politicized process. The
discussion of the prosecutor general's petition can hardly be
understood - a number of oligarchs who committed even graver violations
are among the MPs.
According to the expert, the charges are actually not only against
Oskanian and his Civilitas Foundations, but also against others -
Gagik Tsarukyan, Chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP),
and Robert Kocharyan, Armenia's second president.
The parliament's discussion of Vartan Oskanian's case caused new
developments. Armenia's government, with or without intention, is
making a political victim of Vartan Oskanian. In his turn, with or
without intention, Armenia's prosecutor general is supporting Oskanian
in his election campaign.
According to Giragosian, Armenia's authorities are neither critical
nor supportive of Oskanian. The expert himself is for the presumption
of innocence in Vartan Oskanian's case. He believes it is the Armenian
authorities' responsibility to prove him guilty.