I WAS MISQUOTED, ARMENIAN NOW CLAIMS
By Cyrus Ombati

Standard, Kenya
March 20 2006

One of the two men at the centre of mercenary saga, has denied claims
that he told off Internal Security minister John Michuki.

The German Spitz that is among the six dogs that Artur Margaryan
shipped from Dubai. Pic by Robert Gicheru

Mr Artur Margaryan on Sunday clarified that all he said was that
the minister had asked Kenyans not to discuss the matter until
investigations are concluded

“Listen carefully, and you must run this, I said the Internal minister
had asked all not to talk on the issue they don’t know until the
matter is investigated conclusively,” he said on Thursday.

Michuki said the mercenary saga was under investigations and urged
leaders to stop politicising it. Margaryan maintained that he feared
no one apart from God.

“Christianity began in Armenia before spreading to Rome. It is God
who is protecting me,” he said.

He was referring to last Thursday’s incident where a mob threatened
to lynch him as he left the Standard Group offices. Margaryan said he
knows how to handle hostile crowds and had expected such a situation.

He said no one has threatened him since he set foot in the country and
that he loved Kenya. He refused to divulge details of his questioning
by police on Friday.

He referred us to his lawyers who he said had more information.

Margaryan was on Friday summoned by the team appointed to investigate
the saga. He later recorded a statement over the matter.

Businessman Raju Sangani was also questioned and asked to explain
his relationship with Margaryan. He reportedly said he was a friend.

Baktash had earlier been quizzed in connection with some of the cars
that Margaryan is using.

The investigating team is headed by Nairobi area deputy CID boss Isaiah
Osugo and has so far questioned MPs Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga.

On Sunday, Margaryan maintained he was in the country to invest for
the benefit of Kenyans. He said he would put up an investment that
will benefit at least 2,000 Kenyans.

Vicious dogs

Meanwhile, the six dogs he promised are finally in town. The dogs
arrived from Dubai in cages and are guarding Artur Margaryan’s Runda
compound.

Margaryan warned that the animals were dangerous to uninvited guests.

They are five black Dobermans and a white one, whose breed we could
not ascertain immediately, named Amigo.

Margaryan said they were capable of guarding his premises without
a guard.

“They will attack you if you jump into the compound. I don’t care
who you are, if you step here because they will maul you,” he warned.

He briefly played with the animals in the compound before stepping
out, warning journalists against taking their pictures. Only Amigo
barked. Last Thursday, Margaryan said he would import dogs to guard
the compound.

As he left, he ordered them back then locked the main gate. One of
the dogs started barking as Margaryan drove off in the company of
his girlfriend.

He termed the police officer, who was attacked by a dog last week,
a thief.

Said he: “I don’t know if he was a policeman because I was not here.

He is a thief and anyone who does so will be attacked by the dogs.”

Police investigating the incident were reluctant to comment on the
issue, saying they had been warned against doing so. Margaryan said
he was in the country to stay, adding that he would not run away as
widely anticipated.

He said he had business to do in the country, which he claimed would
benefit more than 2,000 Kenyans.

“I have no plan to leave. I am not going to run away because I am
here legally and I love Kenya,” he said.

He said his brother, Artur Sargarsyan, was in Dubai and had no plans
of coming back soon, unless he was provided with security

Unravelling the mystery

Trade minister, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, wants the two foreigners deported.

Kituyi, who described them “funnily dressed”, said they were in the
country illegally. He said they should be investigated and action taken
against them. He wondered why there was sluggishness on the side of the
Government to respond to calls by Kenyans for action against the duo.

“I wonder why two funnily dressed foreigners can hold the country
at ransom. The Government is letting down Kenyans,” Kituyi told
journalists in Busia yesterday after attending a funds drive in aid
of Busia Friends Church.

He said the continued presence of the foreigners was portraying the
Government negatively. “These funny looking people should not be in
the country. Their deportation is long overdue,” he added.

And the Anglican Church of Kenya has demanded speedy investigations
into the mystery surrounding the two alleged Armenian mercenaries.

The Provost of the All Saints Cathedral, Peter Karanja, said Kenyans
should be patient and give the Government a chance to unravel the
mystery surrounding the two foreigners. He said the Government should
handle the matter with sobriety and come clear over the issue.

“It is only fair and reasonable to judge someone after he has been
proven guilty and this applies to both Kenyans and foreigners,” Karanja
said after conducting the Sunday Service. He said though the church
was not certain about anything, it would only be fair for everyone
to be taken as innocent until he is proven guilty in a court of law.

Judging from the display of arrogance and confidence, the provost said
there was so much to be investigated and brought to light. He regretted
the scenes that took place last week outside the I&M Bank Tower when
Margaryan strolled into the streets and was confronted by a mob.

“The issue of national security is a serious matter,” he said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress