On July 5, Aravot.am published the information that the former President of the Youth Party of Armenia Sargis Asatryan was arrested in Moscow on suspicion of keeping especially
a large-scale drug. The latter has been living in Moscow for several years and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian community in Moscow. A few days later, General Roman Arutyunov representing the chief staff of the Armenian community in Moscow denied that Sargis Asatryan had been the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Community in Moscow, and that they had no connection with Asatryan at all. In a conversation with Aravot, the President of the “Anti-Corruption” NGO Gagik Margaryan said that he has a formal document at hand saying that on June 28 a decision was made at the closed court session to arrest Sargis Asatryan, and he was imprisoned. Rather heavy charge was made to S. Asatryan, and the investigation is proceeding Garnik Margaryan does not consider right to comment at this stage. Only reflecting the General Harutyunova’s statement, he said,- “I know Sargis Asatryan a very long time ago. YPA was not yet established, and was in close relations with Artashes Geghamyan. The 2003 elections, when the opposition failed, and Robert Kocharyan seized the power, after that Sargis Asatryan moved to Moscow. And during our meeting, last year, he gave me his business card, which said that he is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Armenian Community in Moscow. Who denies what, it is his problem? “Mr. Margaryan is sorry that such a young man as Sargis Asatryan is, who have a good education, have attended some schools, and are the future of our country, instead of having their place in their country and have a perspective, fascinated at such evil. He also regrets that S. Asatryan, by and large, will become a scapegoat. Margaryan still hopes that the charges will be denied because such accusation throws a shadow on the reputation of the Armenian nation.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
