Arbak Khachatryan about his “criminal past”. To the question of Aravot as to what was the reason that after Lefortovo confinement when you were restored for the position of Minister’s Advisor of RF HRD, you did not go back to work there, Moscow-based independent human rights defender Arbak Khachatryan, who is now the Advisor to the Chairman of RF anti-corruption said: “The independent human rights defender or the fighter against corruption never and in any way should not depend on the organization, against the errors of which he is fighting. Specifically I was fighting against the state errors, and I could not receive a salary for the RF President’s administration.” Note that the HRD office is next to the RF President’s residency. “I could not use the presidential building and the property, to spend my rest in their recreation houses and conduct impartial activities.
The whole world saw what happened to Medvedev who was dependent on Vladimir Vladimirovich. I, of course, do not put these people in the same plane, but the problem in this case is as to what happens to people on dependence. But the direction which I’ve taken, I could not be dependent on any one,”- said our interlocutor. Recently, Arbak Khachaturyan’s interests in Armenia and about the event happened around Armenia gave rise to findings of the so-called “dark past”. “The Armenian world” newspaper referred Khachatryan’s commercial activities in the early 1990s and the funds ‘appropriated’ from Armenia, pointing out that Khachatryan is trying to fulfill his political ambitions now. With regard to this publication, answering the question of “Aravot”, Khachatryan said: “I have never been engaged in commercial activities, I have never managed any company.
There is no such thing. I had a great wealth in Armenia in those years, within my capabilities, I was trying to be helpful in the difficult situation of my country, but I would say so, Armenia came out against me, I lost everything. I was hit from home. But now I will not speak about anything, all of this will be opened when there will be a normal head at home and will understand.” The publication of “The Armenian world” states that Khachatryan was repeatedly subjected to criminal liability for intrigue and wheeler-dealer finance in Armenia, and later in RF. In a conversation with “Aravot”, Khachatryan’s lawyer, Vladimir Levin, said that he was ready to publish the six-volume work of Arbak Khachatryan’s arrest in RF. He said that the two volumes are “Armenian recordings”, where there are a very notable events and details about current persons occupying high positions in Armenia. The Russian newspaper “Izvestia” wrote about Khachatryan’s years spent in Lefortovo: “Being 2.5 years in prison in Lefortovo, he did not give testimony because everything he said could be used against Armenia.” At the request of “Aravot”, “Anti-Corruption” organization provided us with the documents relating to the arrest of Khachatryan. Note that Khachatryan was arrested in 2003 for sending money from RF to Armenia through smuggling. It was ridiculous that a criminal case is not filed against the person arrested at the “Sheremetyevo” airport who was trying to transfer unregistered amount of U.S. $ 120.000, because the latter said that as if the amount is transferred to Armenia just by the instruction of Arbak Khachatryan. The document signed by RF Federal Security Bureau Major General V. I. Sergeev states that according to information received from RA NSS, Arbak Khachatryan is related to Tigran Naghdalyan’s murdering case, as well as participated in selling of anti-aircraft complex to Chechen assaults.
Later, of course, it was said in the official response of RA Prosecutor’s Office that Khachatryan was not in the list of the accused in the murdering case of Naghdalyan. During this period the contract concluded between RF HRD staff and Arbak Khachatryan was dissolved for ‘not passing the probation period’. However, some time before the arrest of Arbak Khachatryan, RF HRD Oleg Mironov in his letter to RF President Vladimir Putin suggests to award Arbak Khachatryan a category the first-class state advisor. Later, Arbak Khachatryan was justified, re-work, and two months later leaves his position pursuant to his own resignation statement. Once, Russian media addressed the present case in all details. However, in response to the request of Aravot, “Anti-Corruption” company said that they cannot provide any details on Khachatryan’s criminal case, because they have officially applied, but did not receive the case yet, it is nowhere. How the case disappeared, they do not know. Khachatryan himself did not want to touch his “criminal past” in the conversation with us. He said: “You have the facts and documents, do you own conclusions, I do not want to say anything.” And as for the issues of his political ambitions, so he answered: “20 years ago, when the country was led by Levon Ter-Petrosyan, at the beginning of 1993, I was pretty young man, I was participating in the discussion of the issue as to whom to appoint the head of the government. At the time I refused to occupy any position in Armenia by saying that I am residing in Moscow. Today, I clearly say that I do not claim for any position in Armenia.” According to Khachatryan, his highest claim might be a counselor to a high-rank official, where “I can benefit my country, if it is the claim for a position….” According to him, people who believe that the position is a power, they are badly mistaken. “The position is a weakness, because it is a responsibility before your country and your people. Unfortunately, the mentality in Armenia changed, but the man is powerful without the position, he can both enjoy respect and make money, if he has brains. Under the current situation of Armenia, with ruined economy, when whole economic capacities are trade centers, wishing to take the institute of the President equals to death.”
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According to him, the President’s institute will not work. “Serzh Sargsyan is going to eat the biggest blow, whose sins committed are far less. He was leading the ministries of that time in Armenia and in Karabakh, and he was doing his work well, but he was not a political figure. But, today, the dirt of his predecessors, of one’s demolishing, the other’s plundering, fell on him. The President alone, with one person, can not take the responsibility upon him, and handle the matters, but they will demand from the President. Consequently, the management system should be changed so that the powerful countries could not demand from one person. And, today, Armenia faces such problems that require solutions. The mentality has to be changed in Armenia, and the specialist should be evaluated. How much money the shop owners, and the chapmen have, they can not be dictating. Only in the case Armenia will stand up.”
Nelly GRIGORYAN
In the photo: What happens to people who are dependent on Vladimir Vladimirovich.
Photo by Arbak Khachatryan
“Morning” daily
