FSS IMPRISONED ARMENIAN SENATOR OF KALMYKIA LEVON CHAKMAKYAN WHILE TAKING BRIBE 300.000 DOLLARS
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 6 2006
Federal Security Service imprisoned Armenian senator of Kalmykia
Levon Chakmakyan while taking bribe 300.000 dollars, as a result of
operation implemented in Transaero air company, General Prosecutor’s
Office of Russia informed.
During the operation Russia- Armenia Economic Cooperation Association
chief accountant Igor Arushanov and Account Chamber chairman assistant
Armen Ohanesyan have also been imprisoned. General Prosecutor’s Office
has stated that the three persons have detained for their being busy
with crme related to getting money from businessmen. Special operation
has been implemented in accordance with the information of Accountant
Chamber. Igor Arushanov and Armen Ohanesyan is convicted with the
article in taking money in the form of group and roguishness. Since
Levon Chakmakyan has deputy inviolability, official conviction has
not been initiated against him. Levon Chakmakyan has stated that
Transaero Company Board of Directors chairman Pleshakov asked him
support for being selected Russia-Armenia Economic Cooperation
Association vise-president.
“Pleshakov also asked for help in the organization of advertisement
of the company he runs, I promised him to familiarize him with a
person that I know.” The investigation defined the name of that
person to be chief accountant Igor Arushanov. Levon Chakmakyan said
that after they met in the office Pleshakov gave a briefcase to his
acquaintance. Kalmykia senator and chief accountant while leaving
the Transaero company office Federal Security Service associates have
detained them. Levon Chakmakyan was released after two hours.
Transaero company public affairs department chief Sergey Bikhal
said the information of Armenian senator to be false. “We leave
everything to his conscience.” Federation Council chairman Sergey
Mironov applying to Kalmykia parliament demanded to put an end to
authority of senator Chakmakyan. Today Kalmykia President Kirsan
Ilumjanov expressed his confidence for the parliament to put an end
to authority of Levon Chakmakyan. Accounting Chamber chairman Sergey
Stepashin identified the events happened. He stated that chairman
of Board of Directors of the organization, Pleshakov applied to him
related to examinations in Transaero Company. “Pleshakov stated his
dissatisfaction related to the issues in our report. The matter is
about paying 14 billion dollar compensation to customs office while
purchasing plane from foreign companies. Some mediators applying
to Pleshakov stated that they can change the opinion of audit of
Accounting Chamber for 3 mln dollars. During the talks this figure was
reduced to 1,5 mln. dollars. After Pleshakov has informed me about,
I informed Federal Security Service director Nikolay Patrushev.”
According to Sergey Stepashin, President Putin, Federation Council
chairman Mironov and state Duma speaker Boris Grizlov were informed
beforehand of the imprisonment. According to him, if Kalmykia
parliament does not deprive of him his authority, by the award of
Supreme Court, he will be imprisoned. In the investigation materials it
was identified that the names of those mediating to change Accounting
Chamber opinion for 1,5 mln dollars, is Armen Ohanesyan and Levon
Chakmakyan.