Author: Kanayan Tamar

Accused of Illegal Turnover of Radioactive Materials

HETQ
18:44, July 8, 2011

On April 22, 2010 the RA National Security Service initiated a
criminal case according to the RA Criminal Code Articles 215, part 2
and 233, part against the RA citizens Sumbat Tonoyan and Hrant Ohanyan
for obtaining enriched radioactive material 90.8% uranium from Garik
Dadayan (sentenced in 2004 for the contraband of radioactive material
uranium) in March, 2010 in Yerevan, taking it to Georgia by the train
Yerevan-Tbilisi and selling it in Tbilisi.

Garik Dadayan was charged on April 22, 2010 according to the RA
Criminal Code Articles 38-215, part 2 (helper in the contraband of
radioactive materials) and 233, part 1 (illegal turnover of
radioactive materials) for coming to the criminal agreement with the
RA citizens Sumbat Tonoyan and Hrant Ohanyan by telephone in March
2010 to obtain enriched radioactive material uranium and to sell it in
Georgia and to share the profit.

For the implementation and support of the criminal plan G. Dadayan
demanded and received from S. Tonoyan 1000 USD through Unistream money
transfer system for the travel expenses and on March 10, 2010 came to
Yerevan from Moscow. On the same day he gave Hrant Ohanyan 17 grams of
illegally obtained enriched radioactive material uranium in a
cigarette box. The mentioned radioactive material was taken to
Tbilisi, Georgia on March 11, 2010 across the Armenian Customs border
and on the same day H. Ohanyan and S. Tonoyan tried to sell it to the
citizen of Georgia Zaza Kivkivadze but they were found by the
employees of the law enforcement bodies of Georgia.

Thus on March 11, 2010 G. Dadayan supported H. Ohanyan and S. Tonoyan
to hide from the RA Customs supervision 17 grams of enriched
radioactive material uranium and take it to Georgia as well as to
illegally obtain and keep the mentioned radioactive material.

H. Ohanyan and S. Tonoyan in 2010 were found guilty by the Georgian
Court for the contraband and illegal turnover of radioactive materials
and sentenced to 13 and 14 years of imprisonment.
The part of the criminal case initiated by the RA National Security
Service relating to G. Dadayan was separated and on December 9, 2010
the bill of indictment was sent to the Court of First Instance of
Tavish region. On May 25, 2011 G. Dadayan was found guilty according
to the RA Criminal Code Articles 38-215, part 2 and 233, part 1 and
sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment with the confiscation of
property.

Measures are taken to find out where the uranium was obtained from as
it was revealed during the investigation of the criminal case that
there are not technical and laboratory condition in Armenia where
enriched radioactive material 90.8% uranium can be made.

At present, the separated part of the criminal case has been
suspended, taking into consideration the fact that the RA citizens H.
Ohanyan and S. Tonoyan sentenced in Georgia are also accused in
Armenia within the framework of the mentioned criminal case, and
however the operative works to find out the source of the uranium
taken to Georgia are continued.

G. Dadayan’s defenders appealed to the RA Court of Criminal Appeals
the decision of the Court of First Instance of Tavush region made on
May 25, 2011.

The RA General Prosecutor’s Office considers G. Dadayan’s case as a
progress in the context of the implementation of responsibilities
undertaken by the Republic of Armenia during the Nuclear Security
Summit on Illicit Nuclear Trafficking held in Washington, in 2010.

The Republic of Armenia joined 46 states by offering its support in
the implementation of the Work Plan as to which “the Participating
States will strive to improve their national criminal laws, as needed,
to ensure that they have the adequate authority to prosecute all types
of cases of illicit nuclear trafficking and nuclear terrorism and
commit to prosecuting these crimes to the full extent of the law”.

The RA National Security Service succeeded in detecting G. Dadayan’s
criminal activity and tries to prevent other cases of contraband as
well as to call to liability all the persons involved in this case.

Within the Nuclear Security Summit and other international mechanisms
the Republic of Armenia develops its experience and potential to
prevent the illegal turnover and contraband of the radioactive
materials. The Republic of Armenia closely cooperates with other
countries in order to detect other groupings involved in the illegal
turnover of radioactive materials and to arrest the guilty persons as
well as to support the investigation of the criminal cases.

RoA Prosecutor General’s Office

Heritage member says authorities-opposition dialogue linked to Karabakh

July 9, 2011 – 14:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net – The dialogue between the authorities and the
Armenian National Congress (ANC) is closely linked to the Nagorno
Karabakh problem, according to a member of Heritage opposition party.

`The authorities and ANC have a similar position on Karabakh while the
West benefits from a situation when the major political force is
unanimous with the authorities on the issue,’ Larisa Alaverdyan told a
press conference in Yerevan.

`However, we are concerned over the increasing possibility of external
pressure on Armenia,’ she noted.

Commenting on the stand of three Armenian Presidents, Alaverdyan said
that the first President’s position has not undergone changes. `Second
President Robert Kocharian always stated that Nagorno Karabakh will
never be a part of Azerbaijan while the current President Serzh
Sargsyan expresses bright thoughts, however, his speeches are much
better than the policy he pursues,’ she said.

Aravot: My businesses have nothing to do with my position

12:27 – 09.07.11

The paper has interviewed Mihran Poghosyan, the head of Compulsory
Enforcement Service (CES). Below is an excerpt of the interview.

– How would you explain reports that on the occasion of the CES day
the president of the Republic of Armenia, as previously decided, did
not grant you the title of general given the scandal around you last
year?

– Granting titles is the exclusive jurisdiction of the president, and
it is he who decides what to grant and with what procedure.

– Your name is related to several businesses. Did you obtain them
during your term as a government official?

– I took up the position in 2008, and far before that – let it not
sound immodest – I was already a successful businessman. Thus, my
businesses have nothing to do with the position I occupy.

Tert.am

Aravot: Catholicos’s behavior reflects our intellectual and spiritual
degradation

10:46 – 09.07.11

Catholicos Garegin II disclosed his true upbringing, mentality and
essence, the paper’s editor says in an editorial referring to a
controversial video posted on YouTube. The video shows Armenian
Catholicos Garegin II speaking to Georgian Catholicos Ilia II during a
recent meeting in Tbilisi.

Once again, it became clear that he is no different from our
oligarchs, with their dubious style and lexicon, the editorial says.
He also resembles the mobsters that our TV shows present as role
models for the youth, the editorial goes on.

Tert.am

HAUT KARABAGH
Guérogui Petrossian nommé Conseiller du Président Bako Sahakian

Par décret présidentiel signé le 7 juillet par Bako Sahakian,
Président de la République du Haut Karabagh, Guéorgui Petrossian était
à sa demande, démis de ses fonctions de Ministre des Affaires
étrangères. Le poste sera provisoirement occupé par le vice-Ministre
Vassili Atatchanian. Le même jour, par un autre décret présidentiel,
Guéorgui Petrossian était nommé Conseiller présidentiel.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 9 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

ARMEE ARMENIENNE
Le 21 septembre, l’Armée arménienne démontrera sa puissance

Le 26 juin, à l’occasion de la « Journée des Forces armées » Bakou
faisait une démonstration de sa puissance militaire lors d’une parade
dans la capitale azérie. L’Arménie ne tardera pas à lui répondre. Le
21 septembre, pour les festivités marquant le 20e anniversaire de
l’Indépendance de la République d’Arménie, les Forces armées
arméniennes répondront à la provocation azérie par une démonstration
de la puissance militaire de l’Armée arménienne. Un défilé militaire
prévu de longue date puisque le 28 janvier dernier, le Ministre de la
Défense Seyran Ohanian avait annoncé une parade militaire
exceptionnelle pour le 21 septembre 2011. L’Arménie montrera ainsi
qu’elle n’a rien à craindre des menaces de l’Azerbaïdjan en montrant
une partie de son arsenal militaire et surtout la combativité et la
préparation de ses soldats.

Krikor Amirzayan

samedi 9 juillet 2011,
Krikor [email protected]

Glendale News Press , CA
July 8 2011

Bill extends claim deadline for families of Armenian genocide victims

July 8, 2011 | 6:46 p.m.

Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday signed legislation that extends the
deadline in California for victims of the Armenian genocide and their
descendents to file claims on unpaid policies from European and Asian
insurers.

The measure, which extends the deadline through Dec. 31, 2016, was
introduced by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake).

`This is the culmination of a lot of hard work by me and my staff,’
Gatto said. `It’s nice to see this come to fruition.’

Gatto went into the community to get input before introducing the
bill. `[Residents] saw this as an important tool for seeking justice
for the wrongs committed by the Ottoman Turks.’

The atrocity, which took place from 1915 to 1923, left more than 1.5
million Armenians dead.

The extension was needed because victims and their heirs have been
able to file suit in California courts for only 10 years, Gatto said.
Some of the suits were challenged in federal court, keeping new suits
from progressing.

`Very few people have been able to take advantage of the ability to
file suit in California, so far,’ Gatto said.

Mark Kellam

,0,3690601.story

United Press International UPI
July 8 2011

Armenian crime boss pleads guilty
Published: July 8, 2011 at 3:06 PM

NEW YORK, July 8 (UPI) — The leader of an Armenian crime ring in New
York pleaded guilty to racketeering charges Friday in a federal court,
the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Armen Kazarian, 47, pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy,
admitting his association with the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian organization
and acknowledging he engaged in extortion for the crime ring and on
his own behalf, U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said in a release.

The indictment charged Kazarian used his leadership position in the
crime community to help the Mirzoyan-Terdjanian crime engage in a
range of criminal offenses, including operating a $100 million
Medicare fraud billing ring.

Kazarian was a “vor” — roughly translated as “thief-in-law” — among
high-level criminals from Russia and the countries that had been part
of the former Soviet Union, including Armenia.

“International organized crime has emerged as one of the most serious
law enforcement problems of the 21st century,” Bharara said. “It is a
problem that this office — and the Department of Justice as a whole
— is committed to rooting out. [Kazarian’s] guilty plea should send a
strong message to international gangsters all over the world that if
you commit crimes in this country, we will find you, and we will
prosecute you with the full force of the law.”

Kazarian will be sentenced Oct. 6, 2011.

news.am, Armenia
July 8 2011

Armenian free economic zone regime for Russian businessmen will
contribute to their activities – Russian official

July 08, 2011 | 15:29

Rostov-on-Don. – Free economic zone regime for Russian businessmen in
Armenia will significantly contribute to their activities, said
Russian Minister of Transport Igor Levitin on Friday, during the
sitting of intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation
between Russia and Armenia in Rostov-on-Don.

`Turnover of goods between Armenia and Russia in 2010 increased by 10
percent, equaling to $1 billion. The first four months of current year
marked turnover increase of 14 percent in relation to same period of
2010,’ said Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, who
participated in the sitting.

According to Sargsyan, the sides need to increase the intensity of
mutual contacts and to establish a permanent exchange of information
on investment projects of mutual interest.

news.am, Armenia
July 8 2011

18 people got poisoned from boiled meat in Armenia

July 08, 2011 | 17:42

VEDI. – Eighteen people got poisoned from boiled meat in Shaghap
village of Ararat region. They were taken to Vedi hospital on
Thursday, PR department of the Ministry of Healthcare informed
Armenian News-NEWS.am.

`Initial expertise shows that possible reason of poisoning was
self-made boiled meat, which was not kept in appropriate temperature.
Currently condition of all patients is satisfactory. Ministry of
Healthcare controls their health condition,’ head of ministry PR Lilit
Babakhanyan told and recommended to use only fresh food or keep it in
refrigerator.

Those eighteen people diagnosed with food poisoning are from the same
village. The youngest person is 23 and the oldest is 80-year-old.