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PACE RAPPORTEUR ON ARMENIA VOICES CONCERN OVER OSKANIAN PROSECUTION
http://armenianow.com/news/40346/armenia_oskanian_pace_fischer
News | 12.10.12 | 12:13
A Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for the
monitoring of Armenia has expressed his concern about the lifting by
the Armenian National Assembly of the parliamentary immunity of former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on "controversial criminal charges".
"This is especially worrying in the light of persistent allegations
that political motives have played a role in the charges that are
levied against him," emphasized Axel Fischer in a statement posted
on the PACE's official website on Thursday.
"If substantiated, these allegations would mean a step backwards from
the positive trend with regard to political normalization that we have
witnessed over the last year and a half," said the Strasbourg-based
body's official.
Fischer added that he had sent a letter to Armenian Parliament Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan asking him to clarify the charges, as well as the
basis on which the parliament agreed to lift Oskanian's immunity.
Oskanian, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, was stripped of
his immunity on October 2 to face charges of money laundering over
a $1.4 million donation by U.S. philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. to
his Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation in late 2010.
Oskanian denies the charges, linking them to his and his party's
political activities.
United States Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern also renewed
his concerns over the Oskanian prosecution earlier this week. In
a statement on Tuesday Heffern said the development was "bad for
justice and democracy in Armenia".
http://armenianow.com/news/40346/armenia_oskanian_pace_fischer
News | 12.10.12 | 12:13
A Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for the
monitoring of Armenia has expressed his concern about the lifting by
the Armenian National Assembly of the parliamentary immunity of former
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian on "controversial criminal charges".
"This is especially worrying in the light of persistent allegations
that political motives have played a role in the charges that are
levied against him," emphasized Axel Fischer in a statement posted
on the PACE's official website on Thursday.
"If substantiated, these allegations would mean a step backwards from
the positive trend with regard to political normalization that we have
witnessed over the last year and a half," said the Strasbourg-based
body's official.
Fischer added that he had sent a letter to Armenian Parliament Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan asking him to clarify the charges, as well as the
basis on which the parliament agreed to lift Oskanian's immunity.
Oskanian, a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party, was stripped of
his immunity on October 2 to face charges of money laundering over
a $1.4 million donation by U.S. philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. to
his Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation in late 2010.
Oskanian denies the charges, linking them to his and his party's
political activities.
United States Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern also renewed
his concerns over the Oskanian prosecution earlier this week. In
a statement on Tuesday Heffern said the development was "bad for
justice and democracy in Armenia".