CIVILITAS CASE: COURT DENIES MOTION TO DISMISS CHARGES AGAINST FORMER FM’S FOUNDATION
News | 23.07.12 | 14:54
A Yerevan court on Monday denied a motion to squash the criminal
investigation of The Civilitas Foundation, a think tank founded by
former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vartan Oskanian.
Oskanian had filed the motion in the wake of money laundering charges
leveled against the foundation by the National Security Service.
The former FM and others affiliated with Civilitas say that the
investigation is nothing but blatant political persecution.
The NSS announced the investigation May 26, a day after Oskanian’s
political party – which he now represents in Parliament – refused
to join with the Republican Party of Armenia and Orinats Yerkir in
forming a ruling coalition.
Oskanian had joined the party this spring, in time to run for the
National Assembly seat, representing the Prosperous Armenia Party. In
the previous parliament, PAP had been part of the coalition. It
gained additional seats in the May 6 parliamentary election and its
refusal to join the coalition was viewed as PAP’s signal that it
would nominate its own candidate to oppose President Serzh Sargsyan
in next February’s election.
Further, PAP has close ties with former president Robert Kocharyan,
and the enlistment of Oskanian into the party is also seen as a move
that would strengthen the predicted re-emergence of Kocharyan into
politics as the PAP’s candidate.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2012/07/24/civilitas-case-court-denies-motion-to-dismiss-charges-against-forme/
