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American-Armenian Dies In Nubarashen
Jail: Prosecutor Had Demanded 10 Million AMD Bribe 16:28, 30 April, 2013
George Baghoumian Was Serving Pre-Trial Dention: Lawyer Cries
Top-Level Conspiracy 65 year-old American-Armenian businessmanGeorge
Baghoumian died in the Nubarshen Detention Facility on April 25.
Baghoumian, who was charged with tax evasion and possession of an
illegal weapon, had been in pre-trial detention in Nubarashen since
October 27, 2012.
The Baghoumian family, originally from Iran, had relocated to the
United States. Levon Baghoumian, George's father, relocated to Armenia
in the early 1990s and supplied material assistance to Armenians
fighting in the Artsakh War. He had set up an electrical battery
factory and supplied the army with the devices. After his death in
1997, George took over the family business. Serzho Baghoumian,
George's brother, told Hetq that he had serious health problems. In
2004, he suffered a heart attack, was hypertensive and suffered from
diabetes.
There are still no findings as to the specific cause of George's
death. Lawyer Moushegh Shoushanyan took on his defense in February of
this year. By that time the courts had examined motions to prolong his
pre-trial detention. On February 22, 2012, Shoushanyan argued that
there was no legal justification to keep holding his client and that
such a move went against all international norms.
The lawyer also argued that Armenian detention facilities could not
guarantee the health of inmates.
Nevertheless, the courts approved motions to extend Baghoumian's
detention in February and again in April.
`I stated that if the courts approve the motion, they would simply be
writing his death certificate, because George's health was getting
worse,' Shoushanyan told a press conference today in Yerevan. The
lawyer added that Nubarashen officials failed to move his client to a
hospital, which was their obligation. He says there is only one
medical staffer at Nubarshen for 1,200 inmates.
The weapon that law enforcement found in George's house had been
obtained by his father. It was for self-defense purposes after the
family's property in Etchmiadzin had been robbed. The gun was given to
the guards.
Lawyer Shoushanyan stated that while the gun was illegal, no crimes
had been committed with it.
As to the tax evasion charges, the 16 million AMD in question involved
the operations of Gold Energy, a company owned by George
Baghoumian. Along with penalties and interest, the entire amount
allegedly not paid was 41 million AMD.
Shoushanyan stated that he had requested credible substantiation from
officials, but that nothing was ever produced.
The lawyer argues that George Baghoumian was detained as `punishment'
and that the rest was a smokescreen.
Serzho Baghoumian, attorney Moushegh Shoushanyan Serzho Baghoumian,
George's brother who just arrived from the U.S., claims that Edgar
Antonyan, an inspector with Armenia's State Revenue Commission,
demanded a 10 million AMD ($25,000) bribe to drop the tax evasion
charges.
`I didn't have the money to pay him,' Serzho said, adding that it's a
pity that a person's life is put in danger out of personal greed.
Lawyer Shoushanyan said that George never got involved in the
accounting for the business and that it was handled by Vahan Amiryan,
a former member of the Ashtarak Tax Department. Tax evasion charges
were brought about on the basis of Amiryan's testimony.
Another person charged in the case was Karen Grigoryan, director of a
company called Sakren Ltd. Grigoryan was charged with a number of
business violations including contraband and tax evasion. Grigoryan
also testified against George Baghoumian.
Grigoryan was never given pre-trial detention however and merely
promised not to leave his place of residence. He later fled to Russia.
Lawyer Shoushanyan says there is a clear plot to seize the property of
George Baghoumian, but that he can't put his finger on who is pulling
the strings.
A few months back George Baghoumian telephoned Hetq and described the
fabricated plot against him. He promised to provide Hetq with
important documents backing up his claims.
Two years ago, George Baghoumian told Hetq that he had been working
with the RA Ministry of Defense via a company owned by a top army
official and that the company in question had created a number of
problems. It seems Baghoumian had been supplying the army with
batteries but that another company had been given the job.
George Baghoumian dealt with Arva Yerkir Ltd, a company founded by
General Vardan Avetisyan.
According to lawyer Shoushanyan, George Baghoumian had take Arva
Yerkir to court for not paying a fair price for the batteries it was
being supplied with. A lower court had rejected the suit. An appeal
had been filed but a decision is still pending Shoushanyan says that
the Armenian government bears full responsibility for the death of
George Baghoumian and that the family is demanding a criminal
investigation.
He stated that the judges who extended Baghoumian's pre-trial
detention must be charged with gross malfeasance as well as Nubarashen
officials who failed to ensure the proper medical conditions for his
client.
Shoushanyan also called for the resignation of the Minister of
Justice. P.S. - Prior to the publication of this article, Hetq tried
to contact government prosecutor Antonyan to get his reaction to the
charge that he had demanded a 10 million AMD bribe. Several calls were
made to his office, but no one answered. When we finally reached him,
the prosecutor labeled the charge as fallacious. Antonyan told Hetq
that Serzho Baghoumian had only visited him the one time. Antonyan
alleges that Serzho promised to pay the taxes owed by his brother. `I
never demanded a bribe and I could never do so,' said Antonyan
Photo 1: George Baghoumian
http://hetq.am/enghttp://hetq.am/eng/articles/26029/american-armenian-dies-in-nubarashen-jail-prosecutor-had-demanded-10-million-amd-bribe.html?fb_action_ids=10200570355573468%2C10200 570351973378&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UYEh zVnGVvw.send%2C.UYEhLSW1Fuk.send&fb_source=other_m ultiline&action_object_map={%2210200570355573468%2 2%3A141150299401454%2C%2210200570351973378%22%3A16 7496360078092}&action_type_map={%22102005703555734 68%22%3A%22og.likes%22%2C%2210200570351973378%22%3 A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map={%2210200570355573 468%22%3A%22.UYEhzVnGVvw.send%22%2C%22102005703519 73378%22%3A%22.UYEhLSW1Fuk.send%22}
From: A. Papazian
Jail: Prosecutor Had Demanded 10 Million AMD Bribe 16:28, 30 April, 2013
George Baghoumian Was Serving Pre-Trial Dention: Lawyer Cries
Top-Level Conspiracy 65 year-old American-Armenian businessmanGeorge
Baghoumian died in the Nubarshen Detention Facility on April 25.
Baghoumian, who was charged with tax evasion and possession of an
illegal weapon, had been in pre-trial detention in Nubarashen since
October 27, 2012.
The Baghoumian family, originally from Iran, had relocated to the
United States. Levon Baghoumian, George's father, relocated to Armenia
in the early 1990s and supplied material assistance to Armenians
fighting in the Artsakh War. He had set up an electrical battery
factory and supplied the army with the devices. After his death in
1997, George took over the family business. Serzho Baghoumian,
George's brother, told Hetq that he had serious health problems. In
2004, he suffered a heart attack, was hypertensive and suffered from
diabetes.
There are still no findings as to the specific cause of George's
death. Lawyer Moushegh Shoushanyan took on his defense in February of
this year. By that time the courts had examined motions to prolong his
pre-trial detention. On February 22, 2012, Shoushanyan argued that
there was no legal justification to keep holding his client and that
such a move went against all international norms.
The lawyer also argued that Armenian detention facilities could not
guarantee the health of inmates.
Nevertheless, the courts approved motions to extend Baghoumian's
detention in February and again in April.
`I stated that if the courts approve the motion, they would simply be
writing his death certificate, because George's health was getting
worse,' Shoushanyan told a press conference today in Yerevan. The
lawyer added that Nubarashen officials failed to move his client to a
hospital, which was their obligation. He says there is only one
medical staffer at Nubarshen for 1,200 inmates.
The weapon that law enforcement found in George's house had been
obtained by his father. It was for self-defense purposes after the
family's property in Etchmiadzin had been robbed. The gun was given to
the guards.
Lawyer Shoushanyan stated that while the gun was illegal, no crimes
had been committed with it.
As to the tax evasion charges, the 16 million AMD in question involved
the operations of Gold Energy, a company owned by George
Baghoumian. Along with penalties and interest, the entire amount
allegedly not paid was 41 million AMD.
Shoushanyan stated that he had requested credible substantiation from
officials, but that nothing was ever produced.
The lawyer argues that George Baghoumian was detained as `punishment'
and that the rest was a smokescreen.
Serzho Baghoumian, attorney Moushegh Shoushanyan Serzho Baghoumian,
George's brother who just arrived from the U.S., claims that Edgar
Antonyan, an inspector with Armenia's State Revenue Commission,
demanded a 10 million AMD ($25,000) bribe to drop the tax evasion
charges.
`I didn't have the money to pay him,' Serzho said, adding that it's a
pity that a person's life is put in danger out of personal greed.
Lawyer Shoushanyan said that George never got involved in the
accounting for the business and that it was handled by Vahan Amiryan,
a former member of the Ashtarak Tax Department. Tax evasion charges
were brought about on the basis of Amiryan's testimony.
Another person charged in the case was Karen Grigoryan, director of a
company called Sakren Ltd. Grigoryan was charged with a number of
business violations including contraband and tax evasion. Grigoryan
also testified against George Baghoumian.
Grigoryan was never given pre-trial detention however and merely
promised not to leave his place of residence. He later fled to Russia.
Lawyer Shoushanyan says there is a clear plot to seize the property of
George Baghoumian, but that he can't put his finger on who is pulling
the strings.
A few months back George Baghoumian telephoned Hetq and described the
fabricated plot against him. He promised to provide Hetq with
important documents backing up his claims.
Two years ago, George Baghoumian told Hetq that he had been working
with the RA Ministry of Defense via a company owned by a top army
official and that the company in question had created a number of
problems. It seems Baghoumian had been supplying the army with
batteries but that another company had been given the job.
George Baghoumian dealt with Arva Yerkir Ltd, a company founded by
General Vardan Avetisyan.
According to lawyer Shoushanyan, George Baghoumian had take Arva
Yerkir to court for not paying a fair price for the batteries it was
being supplied with. A lower court had rejected the suit. An appeal
had been filed but a decision is still pending Shoushanyan says that
the Armenian government bears full responsibility for the death of
George Baghoumian and that the family is demanding a criminal
investigation.
He stated that the judges who extended Baghoumian's pre-trial
detention must be charged with gross malfeasance as well as Nubarashen
officials who failed to ensure the proper medical conditions for his
client.
Shoushanyan also called for the resignation of the Minister of
Justice. P.S. - Prior to the publication of this article, Hetq tried
to contact government prosecutor Antonyan to get his reaction to the
charge that he had demanded a 10 million AMD bribe. Several calls were
made to his office, but no one answered. When we finally reached him,
the prosecutor labeled the charge as fallacious. Antonyan told Hetq
that Serzho Baghoumian had only visited him the one time. Antonyan
alleges that Serzho promised to pay the taxes owed by his brother. `I
never demanded a bribe and I could never do so,' said Antonyan
Photo 1: George Baghoumian
http://hetq.am/enghttp://hetq.am/eng/articles/26029/american-armenian-dies-in-nubarashen-jail-prosecutor-had-demanded-10-million-amd-bribe.html?fb_action_ids=10200570355573468%2C10200 570351973378&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_ref=.UYEh zVnGVvw.send%2C.UYEhLSW1Fuk.send&fb_source=other_m ultiline&action_object_map={%2210200570355573468%2 2%3A141150299401454%2C%2210200570351973378%22%3A16 7496360078092}&action_type_map={%22102005703555734 68%22%3A%22og.likes%22%2C%2210200570351973378%22%3 A%22og.likes%22}&action_ref_map={%2210200570355573 468%22%3A%22.UYEhzVnGVvw.send%22%2C%22102005703519 73378%22%3A%22.UYEhLSW1Fuk.send%22}
From: A. Papazian