AFTER NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT TO TURN TO ACTIVE ACTIONS, ARAM KARAPETIAN PROMISES

Noyan Tapan
Dec 21 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 21, NOYAN TAPAN. "Armenia becomes like Romania of
Chaushesku’s times or countries of Latin America of 50-s of previous
century when big sums of money were offered for the head of each
oppositionist." Aram Karapetian, Chairman of the Nor Zhamanakner
(New Times) Party, said this at the December 21 regular sitting of
anti-criminal movement, commenting upon the ceremony of awarding
of National Security Service employees held on December 21. He
expressed bewilderment in connection with the fact that for the
present, none of law enforcement bodies has reacted to the recent
publication of Armenian version of Forbes journal, in which the list
of country’s richest people was published, among which there are many
officials. A.Karapetian said that he is going to give the Prosecutor
General a package of documents connected with Justice Minister David
Haroutiunian’s activity. "Why no one inquired from where the Justice
Minister has got a fortune of 75-80 mln dollars?" he mentioned.

According to A.Karapetian’s information, the Minister has a large
apartment worth 3.5 mln dollars in New York and his apartment in
Yerevan costs 200 thousand dollars. "I wonder whether it is right
that Justice Minister’s brother Vahan Haroutiunian together with
representative of Diaspora Vahe Yaghubian is engaged in construction
of buildings in Northern Avenue, whether it is right that some people
apply to the very V.Haroutiunian for receiving a Schengen visa,"
A.Karapetian said. Data on corruption at country’s universities were
also publicized at the sitting. A.Karapetian promised to publish facts
of corruption in law enforcement bodies soon. At the same time, he
stated that under such state of affairs one must not "hope for power
shift through elections."

He reported that the anti-criminal movement is turning to active
actions, the discussion of which will start after New Year holidays. In
his words, the forthcoming parliamentary elections are an important
occasion for changing the situation. "We should use the very important
circumstance," A.Karapetian said.