COURT BAILIFFS SEIZE PROPERTY OF ARMENIAN OPPOSITION PAPER

Interfax
Feb 23 2009
Russia

The Armenian court bailiff service has issued a writ to seize the
property and money assets of the opposition newspaper Aik, Interfax
was told at its press service on Monday.

"The actions of the bailiffs fully stem from the requirements of
executive proceedings launched on the basis of the writ received
from the civil court of Yerevan. One of the requirements is to seize
the property and money of the Aik editorial office in the amount of
2.677 million dram and to suspend the publication of the newspaper,"
the service reported.

Aik is the mouthpiece of the Armenian National Movement which was the
ruling party in Armenia in 1991-1998. In the presidential elections
in 2008 it supported former president Levon Ter-Petrosian.

Earlier the court bailiff service issued a similar writ with regard to
the Bzhni mineral water factory. After numerous inspections the tax
authorities claimed $13 million from it in penalties for violating
environmental protection laws.

The facility used to belong to Armenian parliament member Khachatur
Sukiasian who also supported Ter-Petrosian in the elections.

On February 16 the factory was sold in an auction for $14.5 million
to business tycoon Ruben Airapetian.