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    Emil Lazarian
  • 4 years ago
    • Categories: 2022

Armenia’s ex-defense minister denied bail

Armenia’s ex-defense minister denied bail

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 11:58,

YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Indicted ex-defense minister Davit Tonoyan will remain jailed after being denied bail by a Yerevan court on Monday.

Tonoyan’s lawyer said that only one defendant – Artyom Hambaryan – was granted release on bail on a sum of 5,000,000 drams. Other defendants, including Tonoyan, were denied bail.

Two Members of Parliament from the ruling Civil Contract party – Kristine Poghosyan and Vilen Gabrielyan , as well as another MP Aram Sargsyan (Hanrapetutyun Party President, brother of late PM Vazgen Sargsyan) had vouched-in to the court for Tonoyan’s release.

Tonoyan and several others face corruption charges. They are charged with fraud and embezzlement that cost the state almost 2.3 billion drams ($4.7 million) in what authorities said was a deliberate acquisition of outdated rockets for the military during Tonoyan’s tenure as defense minister.

The Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces General Artak Davtyan is also charged in the case.

They deny wrongdoing.

Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS