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ARMENIA'S EX-FM FACES GOVERNMENT'S PRESSURE - DER STANDARD
tert.am
18.10.12
The Armenian authorities have launched a proceeding against a former
foreign minister; Vartan Oskanian is accused of money laundering,
says the German publication Der Standard in an article covering the
criminal case against Oskanian and his foundation, Civilitas.
"Oskanian was floating free from the authorities for four years
running. Now that he has reached the other coast, he is threatened
with a legal proceeding and probably, twenty years in prison.
Armenia's long-time foreign minister is accused of money laundering
and misappropriation," the paper says.
Referring to Oskanian's words characterizing the case as absurd,
the German publication says it might not absolutely be the case
as the politician who quit his ministerial office in 2008 might
face challenge of returning to politics and acting as a possible
presidential candidate
"As early as after the parliamentary elections in spring, things were
being arranged quite differently for Oskanian. The former diplomat,
57, joined the parliament as a number two figure of Prosperous
Armenia. Formerly representing the ruling authorities, the party
doubled its mandates in the elections. But Oskanian faced a tough
time once he decided to act against the [ruling] Republican Party's
new coalition headed by President Serzh Sargsyan. Sargsyan saw a new
rival emerge," says the paper.
It further addresses the tax inspections at Civilitas and the
subsequent charges of money laundering and misappropriation of funds,
as well as the parliament's approval of the petition to strip Oskanian
of mandate.
"That's a classical example of a political monopoly," Oskanian was
quoted as telling Der Standard. "They have agreed among themselves to
find something about this person. And their criticism has a success."
"Thanks to his international connections, Oskanian managed to find
several donors for Civilitas, including the European governments, the
OSCE and his sponsor, Jon Huntsman. The businessman transferred $1.4
million to the Yerevan based organization. And the Armenian justice
is now trying to base its charges on it," the paper goes on saying.
The author of the article, Markus Berinath, thinks the Armenian
authorities see second President Robert Kocharyan lying behind
Oskanian's image. According to him, either of the two can send a
challenge to the incumbent president in the upcoming polls.
tert.am
18.10.12
The Armenian authorities have launched a proceeding against a former
foreign minister; Vartan Oskanian is accused of money laundering,
says the German publication Der Standard in an article covering the
criminal case against Oskanian and his foundation, Civilitas.
"Oskanian was floating free from the authorities for four years
running. Now that he has reached the other coast, he is threatened
with a legal proceeding and probably, twenty years in prison.
Armenia's long-time foreign minister is accused of money laundering
and misappropriation," the paper says.
Referring to Oskanian's words characterizing the case as absurd,
the German publication says it might not absolutely be the case
as the politician who quit his ministerial office in 2008 might
face challenge of returning to politics and acting as a possible
presidential candidate
"As early as after the parliamentary elections in spring, things were
being arranged quite differently for Oskanian. The former diplomat,
57, joined the parliament as a number two figure of Prosperous
Armenia. Formerly representing the ruling authorities, the party
doubled its mandates in the elections. But Oskanian faced a tough
time once he decided to act against the [ruling] Republican Party's
new coalition headed by President Serzh Sargsyan. Sargsyan saw a new
rival emerge," says the paper.
It further addresses the tax inspections at Civilitas and the
subsequent charges of money laundering and misappropriation of funds,
as well as the parliament's approval of the petition to strip Oskanian
of mandate.
"That's a classical example of a political monopoly," Oskanian was
quoted as telling Der Standard. "They have agreed among themselves to
find something about this person. And their criticism has a success."
"Thanks to his international connections, Oskanian managed to find
several donors for Civilitas, including the European governments, the
OSCE and his sponsor, Jon Huntsman. The businessman transferred $1.4
million to the Yerevan based organization. And the Armenian justice
is now trying to base its charges on it," the paper goes on saying.
The author of the article, Markus Berinath, thinks the Armenian
authorities see second President Robert Kocharyan lying behind
Oskanian's image. According to him, either of the two can send a
challenge to the incumbent president in the upcoming polls.