WHAT IS VARTAN OSKANIAN ACCUSED OF ?
Naira Hayrumyan
Story from Lragir.am News:
Published: 16:59:23 – 19/06/2012
Gorik Hakobyan, Head of the National Security Service gave an
interesting interview to Armenpress commenting on the money laundering
case and the criminal proceedings launched into the activities of
Civilitas foundation against Vartan Oskanian.
Dwelling on the refusal of Vartan Oskanian and the foundation’s
director Salbi Ghazaryan to give testimonies, Hakobyan said that
instead of “promoting the revelation of the truth, they choose the
behavior of a Mafiosi clan structure”.
Besides, the NSS head believes the fact that the fact that the
foundation received unprecedentedly large financial support by the
U.S. and European countries is shameful. “Our imperfect legislation
does not rule out the possibility of such financing. But if Oskanian
gave testimonies, he would attract attention to the fact that the
diplomat who has represented Armenia’s interests abroad for many
years is engaged in political activities in Armenia and publishes a
newspaper, is financed by foreign sources”, said Gorik Hakobyan.
Actually, since the NSS is engaged in the money laundering case, so
being funded from abroad for a newspaper and a foundation is considered
a threat to the national security. The fact that the funding does not
break the legislation, yet “imperfect” means Oskanian’s activities
are a threat to the national security.
What aims did the embassies of the U.S. and other countries pursue
when funding the Civilitas? If their aims and the activities of the
foundation threaten the national security, if they are directed to the
weakening of the state or cooperation with the hostile structures,
treason, espionage, then the NSS should issue direct accusations
to the foundation. The society will hardly support Vartan Oskanian,
if it is found out that he gave military secrets to the U.S. embassy
through his Civilitas.
But most likely, here we don’t deal with a threat to the national
security, but one to the power. In Armenia, they are used to identify
the power and the state and if anyone seriously opposes the power,
they are automatically labeled as “enemies of people.” All oppositions
of Armenia have passed this path. But, apparently, Oskanian represents
a particular threat, and actions relating to him go too far.
In addition, it is hardly good if the head of the National Security
Service of Armenia speaks in the tone of the Soviet KGB of 1937. The
U.S. Embassy and the EU fund not only Civilitas, but the army,
judicial reforms, police equipment, roads building and water provision
in Armenia. Of course, the U.S. has its own interests, but before
you accuse, you must specify where these interests conflict with
the interests of Armenia. Perhaps the development of democracy,
the organization of discussions, the formation of discourses, the
publication of newspapers and the creation of Internet TV is a threat
to the national security? Or maybe Oskanian did something else,
but then let’s talk about it.
If the case is connected with the fact that the Mormons funded his
foundatio, then, let’s forbid the Mormons live and work in Armenia,
let’s say that only the Armenian Apostolic Church can work in Armenia.
If the Mormons and others supported the political and not the civil
activities of Oskanian, or Kocharyan, then, let’s state that they
are banned from politics.
Otherwise, it turns out that the political figure who is accused of
money laundering in reality is blamed of political activities.
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