OPPOSITION TYCOON COMES OUT OF HIDING
Irina Hovannisian

Armenialiberty.org
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Sept 2 2009

In a surprise move, Khachatur Sukiasian, a fugitive businessman and
opposition parliamentarian, surrendered to Armenian law-enforcement
authorities on Wednesday to face trial for his alleged role in last
year’s post-election violence in Yerevan.

Sona Truzian, a spokeswoman for Armenia’s Office of the
Prosecutor-General, told RFE/RL that Sukiasian was taken into
custody immediately after arriving at the headquarters of the Special
Investigative Service (SIS), which has been investigating the deadly
unrest.

Under Armenian law, the SIS has 72 hours to decide whether to ask
a Yerevan court to reaffirm a 2008 arrest warrant for the tycoon or
set him free pending trial. The law-enforcement body did not announce
its further actions as of late evening.

Sukiasian was among several opposition figures who went into hiding
in March 2008 to avoid prosecution in connection with vicious clashes
between security forces and opposition protesters sparked by a disputed
presidential election. Like three other members of Armenia’s parliament
arrested in the government crackdown, he was charged with plotting to
"usurp the state authority" and organizing "mass riots" that left ten
people dead. State prosecutors dropped the coup charges against them
in April this year.

An amnesty bill approved by the National Assembly on June 19 gave
Sukiasian and other fugitive oppositionists until July 31 to turn
themselves in and face trial. They will be set free if found guilty
and sentenced to up to five years in prison.

Three of the fugitives surrendered to the police before the
deadline. Sukiasian, by contrast, chose to stay in hiding after the
SIS made clear that he would be placed under pre-trial arrest.

One of his lawyers, Artur Grigorian, gave no clear explanation as
to why the prominent oppositionist, who is believed to have fled
Armenia last year, turned himself in now that he no longer qualifies
for amnesty. "It is not the prospect of an amnesty that could motivate
him to come out," Grigorian told RFE/RL. "He simply found it expedient
to turn himself in now."

One of Armenia’s wealthiest men, Sukiasian got in trouble with the
authorities in late 2007 after publicly voicing support for former
President Levon Ter-Petrosian’s bid to return to power. Many of his
businesses were raided by tax authorities and fined for alleged tax
evasion. One of them, the Bjni mineral water company, was effectively
confiscated by the government late last year.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress