Ex-defense minister declared fugitive from justice

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 13:28,

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Former Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan is wanted by law enforcement agencies, the Prosecutor-General’s Office said.

Sargsyan, who was Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018, is suspected of violating the rules and regulations of the military housing program during his tenure and ordering respective officials to include 26 handpicked servicemembers, as well as three other individuals in the program who were otherwise either ineligible or behind the waiting list.

The Prosecutor-General’s office had earlier said that Sargsyan’s actions “caused significant damage to the rights and legal interests of persons, as well as the legal interests of the state, by negligently causing grave consequences.”

Five members of the Defense Ministry’s Central Housing Commission are also facing indictments in the case.

Sargsyan is charged with abuse of power. A court issued an arrest warrant for Sargsyan on February 10.

He denies wrongdoing.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS