ArmInfo.In the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nor Nork communities in Yerevan, the court session continues on the case of the attempted illegal importation of Igla MANPADS to Armenia under the chairmanship of Judge Arshak Vardanyan.
Prosecutor Aram Aramyan today presented charges to defendant Samvel Babayan (ex-Defense Minister of Artsakh), according to which he is accused of motivating a group of people to illegally acquire, transfer and hide a portable anti-aircraft missile complex "Igla" that is a military weapon.
According to the charges, Samvel Babayan materially motivated Vaharshapat resident Sanasar Gabrielyan to illegally find the necessary air defense missile system, promising him $ 50,000 for it. Sanasar Gabrielyan turned to Armen Poghosyan and had business contacts with Hrachya Mayilianu in Georgia, promising to give them a pre-agreed amount. According to the preliminary agreement, Sanasar Gabrielyan, Hrachya Mailyan and Armen Poghosyan left for Georgia on September 1, 2016, where they tried to find the necessary air defense missile system.
Then they also visited Georgia periodically for the same purpose. During the next visit on February 22, 2017, Armen Poghosyan and Hrachya Mailyan came to an agreement with Armenian citizen Robert Avagyan, who has been living in Georgia for the last several years, about granting MANPADS for $ 38,000, which was done. Then Hrachya Mailyan transported the complex from Georgia to Armenia (to Vagharshapat).
Concerning the charges brought against him, Samvel Babayan said today: "I do not plead guilty, and secondly, I am accused because I transported military weapons from Georgia, passed the incident on television for a week, then refuted this information and noted that I am responsible for every step and I can give explanations. I do not plead guilty and I think this is a fictitious accusation, I am ready to answer all questions. "
The defendants David Harutyunyan and Zhora Zakaryan did not express their position regarding the charges brought against them, Andranik and Karen Kocharian did not admit their guilt.
Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan were charged for illegally purchasing, carrying Igla antiaircraft missile system, which is a military weapon. They are charged under part 2 of A 235 of the Armenian Criminal Code.
The accused Armen Poghosyan stated that he does not want to express his position regarding the charge brought against him, but Sanasar Gabrielyan stated that he does not understand the essence of the charge. Asked by the judge whether he pleads guilty, Gabrielyan answered in the negative. To note,Seven accused - Samvel Babayan, Sanasar Gabrielyan, Armen Poghosyan, Karen Kocharyan, Andranik Kocharyan, Zhora Zakaryan and David Harutyunyan are in charge of the case of the Igla anti- aircraft missile system.
ArmInfo.Samvel Babayan, Ex Defense Minister of Artsakh accepted his implication to an attempt of Igla MANPADS import to Armenia, as the General Prosecutor Office of Armenia informs, the implication of the import attempt was accepted by two more persons on the case.
ArmInfo. The National Security Service of Armenia confirmed the information about the arrest of ex-Defense Minister of Artsakh Samvel Babayan in the case of the smuggling of Igla missile from Georgia to Armenia.