YEREVAN—Former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian was formally charged on Mon., Oct. 8, by Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) for money laundering following months of investigation, which the former FM says is politically motivated.
On Sat., Oct. 6, Oskanian received a summons to appear at the NSS on Monday. Following an hour at the NSS, he was charged with one count of money laundering and one count of misappropriation of funds, stemming from a 2010 $1.4 million donation to his Civilitas Foundation by American businessman Jon Huntsman, Sr.
According to Oskanian’s attorney, Tigran Atanesian, the former FM was charged with one count each of “embezzlement or waste of funds” and “legalization of incomes received in a criminal way” of the Armenian Criminal Code. If convicted, he can face fines and up to 12 years imprisonment.
“I’ve been invited to the National Security Service to be charged with money laundering and funds misuse. At this point, both the public and those involved in the probe believe the funds appropriation charge to be absurd. I’ll face the NSS only because that’s what the law demands; however, I won’t be testifying,” Oskanian said before entering the NSS building. He also expressed gratitude to his supporters who have launched a petition drive.
Oskanian was asked to present testimony as a “defendant” in the case, but refused to answer any questions.
In May, Oskanian was elected to Parliament as a member of the Prosperous Armenia Party. Last week parliament voted to allow his prosecution by lifting his parliamentary immunity. Oskanian has insisted the investigation is politically motivated and is an effort by President Serge Sarkisian to “step up pressure” on him for his criticism of the administration’s policies.
The NSS did not restrict Oskanian’s movement.
Last week, former President Robert Kocharian, under whose administration Oskanian served as foreign minister, criticized the investigation and defended Oskanian.
The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan also issued a warning last week that read, “We hope that this case does not represent a politically motivated and selective enforcement of Armenian law, as this would detract from efforts to promote greater transparency and reform in the legal, justice, and legislative sectors in Armenia.”
It is plausible that Mr.Aghvan Vardanyan (ARF chieftain) stood up in defense of V.Oskanian.
Embezzlement and waste of funds…
Not really.One only hs to visit CIVILITAS on One North Ave. (down town Yerevan and attedn the very organized Seminars at yerevan hotel, Ani plaza, to understand that all that requires FUNDS.
PLUS SOME 60 EMPLOYEES…
And what? Ms Salpi should work there FREE OF CHARGE . NO SALARY NO COMPENSATION.
Come come now Prosecutor….or other MPs who by education and or knowledge lag behind V.Oskanian by 30 years at least…
This is clearly a move by opponents to drive him out of the Armenian political scene,so as they can go on the way they wish without any scruples………………
Dear Gaytzag,
We don’t know of underwater currents. There’s no need to jump to hasty conclusions that this is a move by opponents to drive him out of the Armenian political scene. Maybe. Maybe there’s something deeper than that. As for the Prosecutor or other MPs who by education and knowledge lag behind Oskanian, you may be right. But it doesn’t mean there are no people in Armenia equipped with qualifications that may surpass those of Oskanian’s. After all, his highest educational degree is Master’s and his experience as diplomat was acquired during his tenure in Armenia that has welcomed him. Before that he was selling jewelry in Los Angeles. Let’s call spade a spade.
Oligarchy politicians in Armenia have way bigger bellies compare to Mr. Oskanian normal “belly size”.
Most probably higher oligarch politicians, don’t trust him in their circle, may be they consider him, that he will be an obstacle, with their “unchained melody” love circle!!
Facts are facts.Oskain also with Salpi FOUNDED AIM MAGAZINE.One of a kind then in Diaspora….fpor ten yrs he ran that.I have been to their editorial offices then in Anit Plaza..
Jewleery Business? anything wrong with that????
REad the foreign press too. Boys who have run errands in HIGE COPRORATION IN THE U.S. have by and by acquired knowldge and become CEO..Where are You ??
Also get yerevan magaznine and see how many Armenians in U.S. or elsewhere from scratch have made it to high positions so whagt???
I trust you realize that there is differenc e IN BEING DONATED $1.400,000, by A U.S. PHLINTHROPIST.putting it under Ministre V.Oskanian´s dispositioin to conduct the Cilvilitas,,,ANOTHER EURO AM GOVT.S NEAAR EACH MONTH eith extending long temr (low interst )LOANs and OUTRIGHT HAND OUTS…TO HELP ARMENIA FORGE AHEAD, in amounts like the laxtest by EU , 43 Million Euros(this just one exapmple)))))))
Spo you better go study these ,before talking about DONATIONS, by individuals and that small compared to the aforementioned…..
Sorry, I do npot agree with you that there are people in Ra that can or COULD HAVE TAKEN THE POST V.O. TOOK AND GUIDE ARMENIA THROUGH A VDERY TUMULTUOUS ERA OF POLITICS AND HE CLOINED WORD….
COOMPLEMENTARY(MEANING IN BETWEEN rrrrUSIA AND usa…
Thus, he is now awarded by the rulers of the Homeland he came to HELP!!!!
We Armenians are to begin to co operate,Period to learn from ea other in PCA´s prof. Colleagues Assoc. and then throiugh these ELECT PEOPLE TO IMPORTANT POSITION THAT REQUIRE EXPERTISE!!!!
Now latest has it that ONE NEW(THIS TIME FROM dIASPORA) iSHKHAN IS TRYING TO TAKE CENTRE STAGE IN RA, advocating 2ND WORLD ARMENIAN CONGRESS ,declared as beginning…
My God..We did choose that name Congress (when RA did not exist as an indpenmdent state) but now BEST DENOMINATION WE CAN GIVE TO A(HOPE SOON)emergin Diaspora org. As WORLD CONGRESS???
Congress in U.S. (probably some other states) measn like PARLIAMENT.
We don´t need 2nd Parliament the LEGITIMATE ONE IS IN YEREVAN!!!
sO THEY BETTER THINK TWICE.fACT IS THEY COPIED THAT FROM US …
mY KIN WHEN i FIRST PARTICIPATED IN eUROPE GOING TO lYON TO BEING ABOUT cENTRALISM A cOUNCIL-IF YOU WILL- told me .Brothher go if you so wish btu KNOW IT BE TO YOU…WSE AREMANINS ARE EACH ONE OF US AN ISHKHAN ISHKANNOUI….
i BEGIN TO SUSPECT THAT HE HAD ÑLOGIC THERE.
wHEREAS IN MY THESE(AFTER 34 YRS OF OUR fIURST cONGREES..hAS 5 DEPT.S ONE iN mOSCOW AS ¨sOCIAL SERVICES AND FURUTRE REPATRIATION ORGANIZING ONE¨ THE OTHER FOUR IN sTRASBOURG. ny. gENEVA. ANMD 5TH IN ST. eTCHMIATZI WITH GREAT HOUSE OF CILICIA.tHUS WE HAVE FROM ALL MAIN CONTINENTS EACH WITH ONE SPECIFIC assignments.Please be abit dcondescending read my articles in
http://www.armeniannews.info….(on top left ,as subscribers submitted articles and then IF YOU HAVE OVERCOME ARMENIAN xxxx spare me at least one negative reply.If you do not then that xxx is very mjuch alive within us…