Author: Chakrian Hovsep

Interview: Prominent Iraqi Church Head on ‘Tragic’ Middle East
Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Iraq: ”They have stolen
the nights of Baghdad from us”

by Juan Michel, WCC
Posted: Saturday, August 18, 2007, 9:40 (BST)Font Scale:A A A

Archbishop Avak Asadourian.
(The Armenian Church) "I come from a wounded Iraq and a severely
wounded Baghdad," said the man in black habit standing in front of some
130 silent church representatives from six continents gathered for a
peace conference on the Middle East.

"The situation in my country is tragic," the man continued.

"We were promised freedom, but what we need today is freedom to have
electricity, clean water, to satisfy the basic needs of life, to live
without fear of being abducted."

The man was Baghdad’s Armenian Archbishop Avak Asadourian, primate of
the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Etchmiadzin) in Iraq, who was
addressing the World Council of Churches (WCC) international conference
in Amman, Jordan, earlier this summer.

Asadourian was in Amman representing the Council of Christian Church
Leaders in Baghdad. Created in June 2006, it is a body made up of 17
church leaders, including two patriarchs, from four Christian families:
Catholic, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox and mainline Protestants. The
Armenian primate is its general secretary.

In an interview with Juan Michel, WCC’s media relations officer, the
prominent Iraqi Christian shared his views on the situation in the
violence-plagued country. The following are excerpts taken from the
interview:

Why did Baghdad’s church leaders establish this council?

Asadourian: To take care of our faithful in these difficult times and
to keep in touch with other Christian bodies. The Council presents the
needs of our people to humanitarian organizations and channels their
help.

What is the situation of Iraqi Christians today?

Asadourian: The situation is the same for all Iraqis, Christians or
Muslims, and it is a tragic one. Bullets do not discriminate between
religions. Every day terrorist attacks are targeting people who could
be the cornerstone of a new Iraq: professionals, physicians, and
engineers. And this is resulting in an across-the-board brain drain,
which is a shame since it takes decades to train qualified people.

Are Christians being targeted because of their religion?

Asadourian: Not as such, except lately when Christians living in a
certain area of Baghdad have been ordered to leave or be killed. The
violence is targeting everyone in the same way. Of course, in a context
of complete lawlessness, some thugs do whatever they want. They can
threaten you, kidnap or kill you.

Recently, two Christian priests, one Orthodox and the other Chaldean,
were killed. In my church, 27 members have died because of the violence
since 2003. Although not personally targeted, they were simply in the
wrong place at the wrong time. Another 23 members have been kidnapped.
Since many Christians are relatively well off, they become targets for
possible ransom, just like well-off Muslims do.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, some
1.2 million people have fled Iraq since the start of last year. What
about the Iraqi Christians?

Asadourian: Before the war, Christians made up some 7-8% of the
population. Today, they are 3-4%. Christians are also moving north
within the country, to relatively safer areas. The churches are
emptying. In my own church, we used to have some 600-700 faithful
worshipping every Sunday. Today, they are 100-150. The reasons are
several: they might be afraid of going out, but they also might simply
not have petrol in their cars – queues at gas stations are three to
five kilometers long – or they might have moved out of Baghdad.

What were Muslim-Christian relations like before the war and what are
they like today?

Asadourian: We Christians were in the country before Islam arrived,
especially in the northern part. But faith-based distinctions were
never an issue: Sunni, Shia, Christian. Our relationships were very
amicable. These differences only became an issue after the war started.

However, we work to maintain bridges. We have twice visited the
country’s most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, as well
as the Sunni leadership. And I want to give credit where credit is due.

High-ranking Muslim clerics deserve credit for their efforts in trying
to prevent the present conflict from evolving into a full-blown civil
war.

Are you experiencing the impact of clashing civilizations?

Asadourian: I don’t see a clash of civilizations but a bungled war with
tragic results for both sides. It seems to me that the occupying powers
did not do their homework well. It is one thing to take over a country,
and another thing to run it properly in order to allow people to be
able to exercise freedom. Security is needed to make democracy viable.
Democracy is not only a concept, but also a way of life. Today in Iraq,
we need basic freedoms, like freedom from fear, freedom to work, to
travel in order to satisfy basic needs. One of the tragic features of
the current situation is the fact that they have stolen the nights of
Baghdad from us.

What do you think would be a possible way out?

Asadourian: The occupying powers have to enforce the Geneva conventions
and guarantee the security of the country. If they were able to bring
about security, a lot of problems would be solved. Ours is a rich
country. We have land, water, brainpower, the second largest oil
reserves in the world – which ultimately instead of being a blessing
has become a curse.

My message to my flock is: do not be afraid, but be careful. Confront
this dire situation with optimism, and pray and work for a better
future.

How could churches outside Iraq help you?

Asadourian: I wonder whether churches outside Iraq are speaking about
this issue boldly enough to be heard. If they were able to advocate
effectively with their governments, they should tell the occupying
powers to fulfill their promises of a better life for Iraq. Promises of
a bright future should now be substantiated. One key point in the story
of the Good Samaritan is that he not only extended help, but his help
was complete and effective.

Some US churches have been asking for a timetable for the withdrawal of
US troops from Iraq. What do you think about this?

Asadourian: At this point in time, I don’t know… It’s a two-edged
sword. Is it going to bring about peace or play into the hands of
terrorists? But an occupation is never acceptable and is always
something temporary that should eventually come to an end.

My message to churches outside Iraq, specially to those in the
occupying countries, is: Help us to make life better for the Iraqi
people, to alleviate its suffering, to keep their governments’ promises
for a better future in all walks of life, and ask for God’s help in
this humanitarian endeavor.
________________________________________ _______

Juan Michel, WCC media relations officer, is a member of the
Evangelical Church of the River Plate in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

COAF RENOVATES SCHOOLS IN LERNAGOG, DALARIK AND SHENIK VILLAGES OF ARMAVIR PROVINCE

ARMENPRESS
Aug 17 2007

YEREVAN, AUGUST 17, ARMENPRESS: Following the launch of its Model
Cluster Program, a unique and comprehensive development effort,
the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) continues to reduce poverty and
bring back hope to rural Armenia by rehabilitating the infrastructure
and improving the economy through a multitude of health, social and
educational projects.

The success of COAF’s completed projects in Karakert, its Model
Village, has inspired the residents of neighboring Argina, Dalarik,
Lernagog, Myasnikyan and Shenik to plan their future with optimism
and zeal.

Just as the Karakert people did a couple of years ago, the Model
Cluster communities have enjoyed upgraded and qualified healthcare,
improved municipal services, and new business opportunities.

The students of Lernagog, Dalarik and Shenik will soon relocate
in their respective renovated and refurnished schools. Over 1,100
children will grow in a safe environment, guided by teachers retrained
in instruction methodology including child centered classrooms,
cooperative learning, thematic teaching, lesson planning, and other
related topics.

First in line is the Grand Opening of the Lernagog School, to be
held on August 27th. The superior quality of this reconstruction
project speaks for COAF’s standards of excellence. The contractor,
Kanaka CJSC, is a Vanadzor-based construction firm highly qualified in
school reconstruction and renowned for product quality and work ethics.

The Lernagog School will accommodate 250 students and staff in heated
classrooms, laboratories, library, music room, performance hall,
and gymnasium.

During a visit to the school reconstruction site last month, the
principal benefactors of this school, Daniel and Henry Sahakians
expressed their excitement in these words ? "We had not imagined
the dilapidated building we saw a year ago would transform to this
beautiful edifice. We surely put our money in the right place." Next
in line is the completion of the Karakert Community Center and Public
Park, plus the Dalarik and Shenik schools.

TER-PETROSYAN’S MEETINGS WILL COME OUT OF ALL-ARMENIAN MOVEMENT’S FORMAT

Lragir
Aug 17 2007
Armenia

The notion of public demand is highly conventional, said the leader
of the board of the All-Armenian Movement in a news conference on
August 17 at the Pastark Club, answering the question of reporters
whether the All-Armenian Movement has measured public demand for
the nomination. "When Karen Demirchyan was named president in 1998,
public demand was not mentioned. Nobody could forecast the developments
and the situation," says the leader of the board of the All-Armenian
Movement. Ararat Zurabyan thinks a similar situation will occur if
Levon Ter-Petrosyan is nominated. Meanwhile, Ararat Zurabyan is all but
sure that Ter-Petrosyan will be nominated. "There is public demand. No
candidate is mentioned definitely by the society but there is public
demand for a change of government, to have another political figure at
the wheel of the government. I think the public demand that exists,
and we all are aware and we all know, the Armenian society does not
like this government and does not think this is the team that should
rule Armenia over the upcoming 5-10 years. And I think, as to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan, this process is underway," Ararat Zurabyan says.

He stated that the All-Armenian Movement will nominate Levon
Ter-Petrosyan. As to Ter-Petrosyan’s personal attitude, it will
become known when the time of registration of candidate comes, says
the leader of the board of the All-Armenian Movement. "As to Levon
Ter-Petrosyan’s likelihood to participate in the political process,
I am deeply convinced he is," Ararat Zurabyan says.

He underlines that most political figures have stated likelihood to run
in the election but only the rumors about Ter-Petrosyan’s nomination
aroused a fuss. "And considering his importance, Levon Ter-Petrosyan
must break the silence in the political sphere, which is happening,"
Ararat Zurabyan says. As to Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s visits and meetings
in the regions, Ararat Zurabyan says those are related to the party’s
affairs.

"The activists of the regional organizations of the All-Armenian
Movement had a few meetings with Ter-Petrosyan. In the regions of
Aragatsotn, Shirak, Lori, and the meetings will continue. I think
it means something," Ararat Zurabyan says. According to him, nobody
will believe him if he says Ter-Petrosyan’s meetings had a purpose
other than what the reporters suggest. "It is obvious that with
the presidential election coming up, the members of the team meet,
discuss the moods, try to evaluate the possibilities. And it is
natural," Ararat Zurabyan says. According to Ararat Zurabyan, during
the meetings nobody said that Ter-Petrosyan will not be nominated.

Meanwhile, many spoke for the nomination, Ararat Zurabyan says. "A
number of meetings are expected. The representatives of the
All-Armenian Movement will participate, as well as I think the format
will be enlarged, in a very short period. There is a tendency, and
there will be a number of other meetings," says Ararat Zurabyan. He
says, however, the meetings are not part of an election campaign,
meanwhile, in the period of nomination and the election campaign
Ter-Petrosyan will have broader meetings and rallies. "And so on,
and so forth," Ararat Zurabyan says.

TURKISH ORGANIZATIONS IN AMERICA – BEHIND SCHEDULE
Arthur Hovhannisyan

Hayoc Ashkharh, Armenia
Aug 16 2007

Interview with the Person in Charge of the Office of ARF Bureau of
Armenian Cause and Political Issues Kiro Manoyan

"Turkish unions in the USA have started their "attack" to hinder the
adoption of resolution 106. Can they really manage to do so?"

"In my view in this issue Turkish organizations in America are
behind schedule, because more than half of the members of the House
of Representatives (226) appear as co-authors of resolution 106.

Hardly can the efforts of the Turkish community have any influence on
the congressmen. I also believe the resolution will definitely be put
to vote by the end of this year. Most probably the resolution will
be put to vote, in case no military changes occur, that can force
the Congress leadership change their minds. But, at the moment there
are no bases for such a change, consequently I believe by the end of
the year the resolution will be put to vote and adopted by the House
of Representatives."

"The Assembly of Turkish Unions in the USA came out with an
announcement entitled "An Alarm of Swift Actions: a Message Should
be Sent to the Congress", where they appeal to all the Turks for
fighting the adoption of the Resolution on the Recognition of the
Genocide. Do you think the Commission on Armenian Cause in the USA
needs to counteract this challenge? If yes – in what way?"

"First of all I should mention that it is the Turkish organizations
that counteract the steps taken by the Commission on Armenian
Cause. Because even during summer holidays the commission continues
to maneuver Armenian community. The latter has expressed his viewpoint
to the congressmen by different means, including telephone calls.

That is why the Commission on Armenian Cause doesn’t need to counteract
the actions of the Turkish organizations. Instead we continue to work
persistently in this direction. In my view it will be very difficult
for the Turkish organizations to change the positive attitude of
the congressmen."

"According to the information published, the organization called
"Turkish Coalition in America" has supported a campaign – they send
letters to the congressmen aimed at hindering the voting and adoption
of resolution 106. Are they trying to influence the congressmen by
means of sending letters only?"

"I should mention that this campaign includes lobbyist organizations
supported by Turkish government as well as other interested circles
that are active in Turkish -American relations and they are trying to
support Turkish government in this issue. Sending letters is a small
part of this big campaign. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that during
the previous months several Turkish parliamentary delegations visited
America, especially for resolution 106. We shouldn’t also forget about
the visits of Turkish Prime-Minister, Foreign Minister and Head of
General Headquarter to America – mainly for the same purpose.

Anyhow they didn’t achieve their goal. I strongly believe this
will be the last effort for the Turkish organizations to try to
save something. In my view Congress leadership realizes that if the
majority of the House of Representatives has already come out as a
co-author of the resolution it will be very difficult to stop them."

"Does the Commission on Armenian Cause have any idea about the contents
of those letters?"

"No, but besides letters they have publications, where they throw the
real, historical facts into question and try to represent resolution
106 as a blow to Turkish-American relations.

The Commission on Armenian Cause has already apposed to all this,
trying to explain the political circles that Turkey has always come
out with similar threats addressed to any country that has passed a
resolution on the recognition of Armenian Genocide. But the fact is,
after the adoption of the resolution Turkey’s economic relations with
those countries have only become closer. That is to say the economic
sphere of Turkish American relations won’t suffer from the adoption
of the resolution, despite their threats. As regards other especially
military relations – it is evident that Turkey has military relations
with the USA based on their interests and consequently it will be a
blow to Turkey itself. In short these threats are simply threats and
blackmail nothing more.

I don’t think the adoption of resolution 106 can have a serious and
long-lasting negative influence on Turkish – American relations.

Panorama.am

00:51 11/08/2007

Tax payers will be divided into the conscientious and non-conscientious

The state tax department’s 2007-2009 program for advancement has
included a self-evaluation plan, which it considers as pivotal. Also
proposed in the program is a plan for the advance of information
technologies, overseeing the effectiveness of these measures, as well
as improving the level of information received by the general
population. This was announced today by tax chief Armen Alaverdyan at
a presentation in the business and trade hall in the "Table Book for
Taxpayers." In his words, it is forseen that by the end of the year
changes in the tax laws will be presented by television stations in
the country.

Alaverdyan also points out that index has grown concerning the
proportion of income taxes collected, not necessarily related to
increased production but the success of increasing tax collection. He
then pointed out that tax payers will be divided into the
conscientious and non-conscientious. For those who don’t pay
conscientiously, punishment will be harsh, while those who pay
conscientiously will be treated with a soft hand.

Source: Panorama.am

Westword, CO
Aug 10 2007

CSFAC Director Leaves…for Armenia
Fri Aug 10, 2007 at 09:18:55 AM

In what has got to be described as shocking news, Michael De Marsche
resigned as director of the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center on
August 9, just seven days after the new David Owen Tryba-designed
wing was unveiled.

Even more shocking is why: He’s becoming the new director of the
Gerald L. Cafesjian Museum Foundation in Yerevan, Armenia! I couldn’t
make this stuff up.

Yerevan, by the way, is the capitol of the country, and the
foundation, established by entrepreneur Cafesjian, is currently
constructing a huge new cultural facility that will serve as a
permanent home for his extensive collection of modern art as well as
a venue for traveling exhibitions.

During his four-year tenure at the CSFAC, De Marsche led a major
turnaround for the Southern Colorado institution, spiking attendance
and membership, establishing the FAC Modern downtown annex, and
shepherding the restoration of the original John Gaw Meem building
and the construction of the Tryba wing.

Some of his decisions were controversial — especially the loss of
the library and the expanded definition of the Taylor Museum, which
was limited to Native American and Hispanic material and now
encompasses all the art the CSFAC owns. But all and all, he changed
the CSFAC for the better.

De Marsche’s last day will be September 1, just a few weeks away —
and in the meantime he’s on vacation.

In the short statement released by the board of trustees, which
though not terse was also noticeably unenthusiastic concerning De
Marsche’s many accomplishments, it was announced that the search for
his replacement would begin immediately. – Michael Paglia

World Press Review
Aug 10 2007

Global Poll: U.N. Should Protect Against Genocide

Worldpress.org
August 9, 2007

In a global poll released earlier this year, respondents collectively
indicated their belief that the United Nations has the responsibility
to protect people from genocide and other severe human rights abuses
– even if it meant acting against the will of their own government.
Large numbers of those polled were open to U.N. intervention in
Darfur, Sudan, where Arab militias linked to the Sudanese government
are accused of massacring civilians.

The survey was conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and
WorldPublicOpinion.org, in cooperation with other polling
organizations.

The study was taken in 18 countries – China , India, the United
States, Indonesia, Russia, France, Thailand, Ukraine, Poland, Iran,
Mexico, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Argentina, Peru,
Israel and Armenia – in addition to the Palestinian territories.

The international press has not been reticent in expressing opinions
and making observations about the U.N.’s actions, or the lack
thereof, with respect to Darfur. To say the least, there appears to
be a healthy amount of skepticism regarding the U.N.’s ability to
provide an effective solution.

Former British Labor government adviser David Clark, writing in
London’s Guardian Unlimited (Aug 1), posited that the mission had
been handled incorrectly from the start:

The fallacy at the heart of our failure in Darfur until now has been
the idea that you can stop genocide and ethnic cleansing with the
consent of those responsible. That error persists even now, as the
resolution describes the U.N.’s "determination to work with the
government of Sudan, in full respect of its sovereignty."

There is no credible reason to believe that this noble sentiment is
shared in Khartoum, and the sooner the international community
realizes that the better.

A press release from Switzerland’s online ReliefWeb (July 31)
followed the same line of reasoning:

After months of pressure the Government of Sudan recently agreed to
the deployment of a more robust AU/UN "hybrid" force. … However,
there has been some skepticism about this breakthrough, as the
Government of Sudan has proven to be adept at diffusing pressure by
making concessions once international pressure reaches a crescendo,
only to renege on it’s promises at a later date.
Reporting on the most recent U.N. initiative to ameliorate the
situation in Sudan, London’s BBC News (Aug 1) struck a cynical tone:

The mission, to be known as Unamid – the United Nations African Union
Mission in Darfur – is expected to cost up to $2bn a year and will be
world’s largest peacekeeping force.

The new force will not have the right to disarm the militias and it
does not have the powers to pursue and arrest suspected war criminals
indicted by the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, the
resolution does not threaten sanctions against Sudan if it does not
comply.
Much harsher criticism of the U.N. effort was leveled by Professor
Eric Reeves of Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, who wrote
an article for the Sudan Tribune (July 11) under the headline,
"Darfur situation makes a mockery of Ban Ki-Moon fatuous optimism":

Since U.N. Secretary-General Ban cannot possibly point to "progress"
on the ground in addressing the security crisis in Darfur, or to
improvement in the terrifying humanitarian picture in Darfur and
eastern Chad, he is committed to the claim that the international
community is moving ahead with a "peace process," and that efforts
are underway to provide protection in the form of a UN/AU "hybrid
force" … But the voices from Darfur, from the camps, from eastern
Chad, from civilians throughout the greater humanitarian theater, now
including Central African Republic, are all urgently one: "Protect
us, protect us and our families!" The cry is painfully simple,
direct, anguished. A fifth year of genocidal counter-insurgency
warfare proceeds, and still this cry is not heard.
Remaining true to its ideological point of view, the China Worker
(July 11) views the United Nations as nothing but a willing pawn of
capitalism:

Despite the failure of the United Nations since its inception to
prevent and resolve wars and conflicts, and its inability to
eradicate crushing poverty and prevent climate change on a world
scale, many (including those on the political left during last year’s
Lebanon war), continue to promote it as a ‘world parliament’. But the
U.N. is beholden to the world’s major capitalist powers and cannot
play an independent role. … United Nations’ peacekeeping
interventions are often controversial affairs and lay bare the U.N.’s
inability to keep the peace when there is no peace to keep.
According to a commentary by Joseph S. Nye in Lebanon’s Daily Star
(July 19) there are many in the United Nations’ host country who
think that the organization is not living up to its responsibilities:

With 192 members and a mandate that covers everything from security
to refugees to public health, the United Nations is the world’s only
global organization. But polls in the United States show that
two-thirds of Americans think the U.N. is doing a poor job, and many
believe it was tarnished by corruption during the Iraq oil-for-food.
Writing for Japan’s Daily Yomiuri (July 11), Ramesh Thakur noted that
there is perhaps a wider societal failure in the global inability to
stop genocide:

Revulsion at the murder of large numbers of civilians in a range of
atrocity crimes (crimes against humanity, large-scale killings,
ethnic cleansing, and genocide) – the drowning of the ceremony of
innocence – has led to a softening of public and governmental support
for the norms and institutions that shield the perpetrators of
atrocity crimes from international criminal accountability. … Darfur
is the current poster child for callous international indifference.
Citing another example where the international community has failed
in this regard, Canada’s online MWC News (July 11) carried a scathing
column by Richard Falk concerning the current status of the
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, under the headline, "Slouching toward a
Palestinian Holocaust":

If ever the ethos of "a responsibility to protect," recently adopted
by the U.N. Security Council as the basis of "humanitarian
intervention" is applicable, it would be to act now to start
protecting the people of Gaza from further pain and suffering.

But it would be unrealistic to expect the U.N. to do anything in the
face of this crisis, given the pattern of U.S. support for Israel and
taking into account the extent to which European governments have
lent their weight to recent illicit efforts to crush Hamas as a
Palestinian political force.
Summing it all up, the Brunei Times (July 9) pessimistically noted:

Today, unfortunately, the concept of "responsibility to protect,"
which established itself a while ago is losing strength.

MUFTI OF ISTANBUL CONGRATULATES ARMENIAN COMMUNITY ON OCCASION OF CHRISTIAN FESTIVAL

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Aug 10 2007

ISTANBUL, AUGUST 10, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Doctor-Professor
Mustafa Chagrijn, the Mufti of Istanbul, congratulated the Armenian
community on the occasion of the Assumption of Saint Mariam the Virgin.

According to the information provided by Daily "Vatan", the message of
congratulation of the Mufti addressed to the Armenian community runs
as follows: "I congratulate our Armenian compatriots on the occasion
of the forthcoming festival of the Assumption of Saint Mariam the
Virgin and wish them all the best and success."

CE SEMINAR ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO BE HELD IN ARMENIA IN SEPTEMBER

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
Aug 9 2007

YEREVAN, August 9. /ARKA/. Council of Europe is to hold an information
seminar on struggle against human trafficking on September 5 and 6
in Armenia, an officer of the Council told RIA Novosti on Thursday.

He said the aim of the seminar is to attract attention to European
Convention on Human Trafficking and discuss measures to be taken to
combat the phenomenon.

The Convention was opened for signing in May 2005 in Warsaw.

Russia has not ratified the document yet.

The council’s spokesman said that the seminar would be held as part
of the Council’s large-scale campaign launched last year.

Experts from CE member countries are set to speak at the seminar
about international experience in combating human trafficking.

The previous seminar was held in Riga.

RUSSIAN SUPREME COURT BEGINS HEARINGS ON CASE AGAINST EX-SENATOR

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
August 8, 2007 Wednesday

The Russian Supreme Court began on Wednesday hearings on a criminal
case against Levon Chakhmakhchayn, an ex-senator from the southern
republic of Kalmykia.

The court did not discuss whether the preliminary hearings would be
opened or closed, a court spokesperson told Itar-Tass.

He added that the court proceeding most likely would be held behind
closed doors.

The court declared a break in the proceedings until Friday.

Lawyers of the former member of the Federation Council upper house
of parliament asked for stopping the criminal case against him.

Apart from the former senator, an inspector the Russian Audit Chamber
Armen Oganesyan, who is the son-in-law of Chakhmakhchayn, in the dock.

Another defendant is Igor Arushanov, a chief accountant of the
Association of Russian-Armenian Business Cooperation.

They are accused of stealing one and a half million dollars from the
air company Transaero.

In last year’s April, the Russian Audit Chamber checked the Domodedovo
airport’s customs service, to find that Transaero illegitimately
used exemptions from taxes imports of aircraft, plane engines and
spare parts.

The auditors made the conclusion that these violations left the
federal budget short of seven billion roubles in taxes.

According to investigators, Chakhmakhchayn abused his office and
offered deleting the violations from the audit summary in exchange
for one and a half million dollars.

Most of this sum was to be remitted through fictitious contracts to
front firms, and 300,000 dollars was to be paid in cash.

The Russian Prosecutor-General’s Office said Chakhmakhchayn and
Arushanov struck a fictitious deal the office of Transaero with its
deputy director-general Alexander Pleshakov, under which the air
company was to remit to the Moscow Credit Bank 22 million 500,000
roubles through the account of the front firm Eksilon "for an
advertisement company".

Later, Chakhmakhchayn and Arushanov made with Pleshakov another
fictitious contract. This time the air company was to remit 9 million
820,000 roubles to the company Unios for marketing and advertisement
services.

The firm proved a front registered using a stolen passport.

Investigators said Chakhmakhchayn and Arushanov received 300,000
dollars from Pleshakov for that.

The Federal Security Service detained Chakhmakhchyan, Arushanov,
Oganesyan and other suspects when this money was changing hands.