In response to the question whether the Director of the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund has returned the embezzled money or has only wasted it, Arthur Vanetsyan, the head of the National Security Service, said that the Director states he has returned, but “we will find that out through the investigation”. “We know that he has taken 130 million drams and made bets in casinos”.
In response to the remark that the credit line was of 25 million drams, Mr. Vanetsyan said that he has used it for several times: “We will inform you when the investigation is over”. According to Vanetsyan, only the fact that he has used the credit line is criminally punishable.
As regards high-ranking officials who leave the country, despite the criminal prosecutions against them, for instance, Mikayel Harutyunyan, former Defense Minister, Mr. Vanetsyan was asked whether the National Security Service has no control over that. Vanetsyan responded that when Mikayel Harutyunyan left the country there was no criminal prosecution against him yet. “The National Security Service is fully aware of the situation”.
Regarding the “Yerevan” Fund, the head of the National Security Service said that the investigation is underway, and we will see the results soon. He also said that Taron Margaryan’s property is also being searched within the framework of the “Yerevan” Fund case. Whether where Taron Margaryan currently is, Mr. Vanetsyan said that he is certainly in Armenia: “I cannot tell exactly where he is”.
In response to the question whether it is true that former Chief of the Police Vladimir Gasparyan was taken to the National Security Service for two hours, Mr. Vanetsyan said he would not comment on that and would inform later if there is the need.
Lusine BUDAGHYAN
