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Criminal Case Against Ex-Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian Closed

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  • Criminal Case Against Ex-Armenian Foreign Minister Oskanian Closed

    CRIMINAL CASE AGAINST EX-ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER OSKANIAN CLOSED

    Interfax, Russia
    July 24 2013

    YEREVAN. July 24

    The Armenian National Security Service has closed a criminal case
    against former Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian.

    "The criminal case that was opened earlier on money laundering charges
    was re-qualified as large-scale tax evasion. Taking into account
    that Oskanian voluntarily paid his tax obligations, a decision has
    been made to close his criminal prosecution," the Armenian National
    Security Service told Interfax.

    The National Security Service's investigations department opened a
    criminal case against Oskanian on money laundering charges in summer
    2012, claiming that the Civilitas Foundation headed by Oskanian
    legalized large-scale criminal proceeds.

    In particular, the investigation was opened into the sale by Civilitas
    of its 100% share worth $2 million to the Armenian-based organization
    Huntsman Building Products belonging to the U.S. corporations Polymer
    Materials and Huntsman International.

    "On July 19, 2013, the former Armenian foreign minister made a
    statement and testified that he used $250,795, which was donated by
    Huntsman International head John Huntsman exclusively for charity
    purposes, for his personal needs, seeing this sum as his share from
    the deal," the National Security Service said.

    Oskanian also paid an income tax on this sum calculated by the State
    Revenue Committee to the Armenian national budget.

    Oskanian earlier denied the charges brought against him, saying that
    he was being politically persecuted. He also insisted that the money
    donated by Huntsman International was not spent and the corporation
    did not have any complaints.

    Oskanian served as foreign minister under President Robert Kocharian
    from 1998 to 2008. After Serzh Sargsyan's victory in the 2008
    presidential elections, Oskanian resigned and set up the Civilitas
    Foundation dealing with human rights, democracy and civil society
    matters.

    va


    From: Baghdasarian
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