ARMENIA: NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE SEARCH TARGETS OPPOSITION MEMBERS
Gayane Abrahamyan
EurasiaNet, NY
May 7 2007
A money laundering investigation waged against two former government
ministers who are outspoken government critics has sparked fresh
controversy about treatment of the opposition in the run-up to
Armenia’s May 12 parliamentary vote. Government investigators have
denied all allegations of wrongdoing or political motivation for
their actions.
On May 5, the National Security Service (NSS) searched the home and
office of former Foreign Minister (1996-98) Alexander Arzumanian and
the apartment of former Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Defense
Minister (1992-2000) Vahan Shirkhanian in connection with a money
laundering investigation. No charges have yet been brought against
either man.
The NSS alleges that during an April 24-April 26 visit to Moscow
Arzumanian and Shirkhanian arranged with Russian citizen Levon Grigory
Markos, who is wanted for forgery by Armenian prosecutors, to launder
funds "of doubtful origin" by depositing them in bank accounts in
Armenia. Investigators claim that $180,000 was transferred on April
27 from Moscow to an account at the Convers Bank in Yerevan held
in the names of "nine henchmen," who acted as covers for Arzumanian
and Shirkhanian.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Shirkhanian told EurasiaNet that the
sum was indeed transferred to him, but not for the purpose alleged.
Rather, Shirkhanian said that he traveled to Moscow to ask for
ifinancial support from my friendsi for his daughteris wedding and to
finance his newly created non-governmental organization, the Shanghai
Club of Armenia, which is designed to promote ties between Armenia,
China and India.
The former minister charges that the search is intended to stir up fear
among voters and is a continuation of the intimidation tactics that
characterized earlier explosions at Prosperous Armenia Party offices
and attempted shootings of Republican Party of Armenia members. [For
details, see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Both Shirkhanian and former Foreign Minister Arzumanian are well
known for their harsh stance against the government. Neither is taking
part in the elections. Since 2006, Arzumanian has been calling for a
civil disobedience movement and for Armenians not to take part in the
elections, arguing that such actions are the only way ito get rid of
the criminal officialsi in power.
iThese officials both tap into peopleis conversations and watch their
bank accounts to keep their places in power,i former Deputy Prime
Minister Shirkhanian said, referring to a recorded conversation
between opposition Country of Law leader Artur Baghdasarian and a
senior British diplomat about alleged election violations that was
termed an act of treason by President Robert Kocharian. [For details,
see the Eurasia Insight archive].
Shirkhanian says that his daughter and her fiance were held for 10
hours at the National Security Service for questioning on the case on
May 4. His apartment was searched for weapons, precious stones and
money the following day. Police left with $28,000 in cash, a home
computer and various documents, he said.
Former Foreign Minister Arzumanian agreed with Shirkhanianis
assessment. "This is a message to all opposition forces not to dare
to take to the streets, not to struggle, but to accept the already
decided outcome of the election," he told EurasiaNet.
The National Security Service questioned Arzumanian becaue he had
traveled to and from Moscow on the same flight with Shirkhanian, he
claimed. The former foreign minister dismisses the agencyis search
of his office as "nonsense," but takes issue with National Security
Service agents allegedly "terroriz[ing]" his 10-year-old son, and
"forc[ing] him to open the door" of Arzumanian’s apartment.
"This is the most elementary violation of human rights," commented
Arzumanian’s wife, Melissa Brown, a US citizen.
Items confiscated from Arzumanianis apartment, Brown said, include
$55,400 in cash, which the ex-foreign minister describes as his savings
from past speaking honoraria, two computers and, peculiarly, a receipt
for a package that Arzumanianis son received from the US in 2005.
Former Foreign Minister Arzumanian believes that the search has more
to do with his political positions than with possible money laundering.
"I haven’t had any [such] economic or financial activities in my
life," he said. "Yes, I witness money laundering and fight against
it, but the money launderers are the authorities alone, headed by
[Prime Minister] Serzh [Sarkisian] and [President Robert] Kocharian."
At a May 7 press conference, Parliamentary Speaker Tigran Torosian,
a member of the Republican Party of Armenia, told reporters that he
was "sure that these searches are not connected with the elections."
What steps will be taken next in the investigation of Shirkhanian and
Arzumanian are not clear. If prosecuted for money laundering and found
guilty, the pair could face a prison sentence of six to 12 years with
loss of property.
Meanwhile, associates and friends are also being questioned. On May
7, a search was also made in the apartment of Artyom Khachatrian,
a friend of former Foreign Minister Arzumanian. Under the pen name
"Gagik Sarkisian," Khachatrian has authored a book that strongly
criticizes the government for alleged criminal ties. Khachatrian told
EurasiaNet that he had earlier been warned by the NSS that he would
be arrested if he continued to publish his writings. The writer said
that he was kept for eight hours at the National Security Service
for questioning after his apartment was searched.
The same day, four activists from Arzumanianis Civil Disobedience
non-governmental organization were also interrogated by the National
Security Service.
NSS spokesperson Artsvi Baghramian has defended the Serviceis
investigation of the two former ministers for money laundering,
telling EurasiaNet that there were iserious groundsi for the
decision. Baghramian did not comment on the additional interrogations,
but stated that individuals connected with Arzumanian and Shirkhanian
will be invited to the NSS to "talk and give information."
Editor’s Note: Gayane Abrahamyan is a reporter for the independent
online ArmeniaNow weekly in Yerevan.
