Human rights activists argue that it was not nice to allow a Russian citizen Sergey Mironov arrested in the airport of Yerevan by the claim of the United States to leave Armenia. In an interview with “Aravot”, Program Coordinator of “Union of Informed Citizens” NGO, Daniel Ionnisyan, was upset in no case it should be allowed the person under investigation to leave the Republic of Armenia, “It was not mandatorily to take him in custody, they could have taken his signature on not leaving the Republic and then receive all the documents and accusations from the USA, and the RA court would decide the fate of this person. But it was not done, on the contrary, he was given a chance to escape.” Daniel Ionnisyan raises a question whether it was accidental, and also notes that it is not.
According to him, what happened was a political decision: “This man apparently was guilty of a number of crimes, and could have problems if he had not escaped to Russia.” Back to Russia’s attitude towards the RA citizen appeared in a similar situation, Daniel Ionnisyan noted, “Can you imagine an RA citizen wanted by Interpol is arrested in Russia? Can you imagine the attitude towards him: they will make him wear a bathrobe and disgrace him in front of the whole world.” In Daniel Ionnisyan’s understanding, this speaks of the fact that the Armenian-Russian relations are not proportional, they are more of a vassal.
Our interlocutor does not rule out the possibility that the US will take this move into account and will make appropriate decisions on allocation of funds to Armenia for the criminal-juridical reforms next time and will take into account that Armenia is a country that allows the person charged with money laundering and illegal trade of weapons escape. Daniel Ionnisyan’s conclusion is one: “If the person being accused of serious crimes manages to escape from Armenia, then there is no true law enforcement system in Armenia.” Head of HCA Vanadzor office, Arthur Sakunts, is sure that after this move, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia, the Police, National Security Service and the government will have to answer many unpleasant questions, as well as to expect a tough response from the USA.
He recalled how the RA authorities were treating RA citizen Sargis Petrosyan when based on the decision of the investigation no arrest was made as a precautionary measure but by the RA chief prosecutor’s decision, he was kept in Nubarashen Penitentiary for 25 days. Or, how a citizen of Bahrain was inhumanly treated in January this year. Whereas no such an attitude was used against the Russian citizen, moreover, he was allowed to escape: “The RA government was confident in releasing a person under the international investigation, wasn’t it? And just for the fact that he is a Russian citizen.”
Mr. Sakunts already forecasts that the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, the RA Police, National Security Service and the government are going to face very unpleasant questions: “It is obvious that the RA law enforcement officers have demonstrated such an attitude to the Russian citizen driven by political appropriateness rather than by legal aspect. The shame is that if until then the RA law enforcement officers were making a decision driven by the political appropriateness of the RA authorities, now also of the Russian authorities.”
Artur Sakunts cannot even imagine how they are going to explain or justify this move. However, he clearly imagines what negative impact can this behavior have on Armenia: “Sanctions against people who have made illegal decisions, who have failed to carry out legal decisions, complications related to financial support for certain projects, and also serious political consequences.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
“Aravot”
