Wednesday, August 28 2019 13:12

ArmInfo. In the territories belonging to former Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan, where searches were conducted by the National Security Service, there were  no  subject matters  that could be of significance for the criminal  case against him. This was reported to reporters by Khachatryan's lawyer Yerem Sargsyan.

He said that during the search a weapon was found for which there was  an appropriate permit, but it was confiscated. "During the searches,  large amounts of money were not found. I suspect that they were  looking for documents important to the case, but they were not  found," the lawyer said.

Sargsyan also noted that Gagik Khachatryan was formally detained, but  de facto, it was not a detaintion, since the former minister  voluntarily visited the NSS from the early hours and participated in  investigative activities. "I don't think that he was detained,  despite the fact that a corresponding decision was drawn up.   Regarding the detention, it should be noted that, according to the  law, it is carried out either immediately after the commission of the  crime or in the course of preventing the crime. Meanwhile,  Khachatryan accused of crimes allegedly committed by him from  2010-2016 during his tenure in various positions.  Obviously, he  cannot be arrested for actions committed in 2010, "the lawyer said,  adding that in any case the issue will be resolved within 72 hours,  accordance with the law.

He also said that in 2019, Gagik Khachatryan, not completing his  treatment in Germany, appeared at the first request of law  enforcement agencies in Armenia. "If he wanted to abscond from  country, he would not interrupt his treatment and return. Moreover,  Khachatryan is on his own recognizance in the framework of the case  instituted in the Special Investigation Service of Armenia, and was  in the republic these months, despite that he needs treatment abroad.  In this light, it is not clear why he should now flee, "the lawyer  emphasized.

Commenting on the statement by the head of the National Security  Service that it was a waste of tens of millions of dollars, Sargsyan  noted that one part of the prosecution was a waste of salaries of  employees who, when receiving a salary, did not go to work. "In this  light, the question arises whether Gagik Khachatryan has a  relationship with this, taking into account the whole spectrum and  number of employees of the structure, whether he could personally  control the work of each of the employees. But even in this case,  taking into account the salaries of the SRCemployees, there can be no  talk about embezzlement in the amount of tens of millions of dollars,  "the lawyer said, stressing that the case is quite large, and he does  not know what other charges are brought.

The lawyer said that Gagik Khachatryan's health problems are quite  serious. "Since 2015, Khachatryan has undergone at least 4  operations. He has problems with the musculoskeletal system. If he  does not continue treatment, he will become disabled. I want to note  that all the necessary medical documents have already been submitted  to the preliminary investigation body. The bodies carrying out the  production should be as attentive and vigilant as possible given the  complexity of the disease. Moreover, Khachatryan also underwent an  examination in Armenia and they confirmed that the disease was  progressing. Doctors from Germany said that he should  be under  constant surveillance since his illness may have an unexpected  outcome, " Sargsyan said. He also noted that he had turned to the  body conducting the investigation with a request to give Khachatryan  the opportunity to go for treatment, but so far he has not received  an answer to his request.

Sargsyan also said that many relatives of Khachatryan, and even  himself, were interrogated as part of the criminal case, but refused  to disclose details of interrogations.

It should be noted that yesterday, Gagik Khachatryan was  detained on charges of embezzlement on an especially large scale and  abuse of official position. According to the head of the National  Security Service, Arthur Vanetsyan the question is about tens of  millions of dollars. Gagik Khachatryan was detained along with his  relative Karen Khachatryan. The latter, under the leadership of Gagik  Khachatryan, worked at the SRC and is also accused of embezzlement on  an especially large scale and abuse of office.  To recall,  Khachatryan is undergoing yet another case under the jurisdiction of  the Special Investigation Service. In the framework of this case, he  is held together with the Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan.  The question is about abuses in the process of distributing  preferential fertilizers to peasants.  According to the  investigation, the amount of abuse reaches 800 million drams, which,  however, were recovered. However, the criminal case is ongoing. As  Vanetsyan noted the day before, most likely, both cases will be  merged into one proceeding, since two criminal cases cannot be  initiated against one person at once.  Over the years Gagik  Khachatryan held high positions under both the presidency of Robert  Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. In particular, he was appointed to the  post of chairman of the State Revenue Committee in August 2008. From  2014 to 2016, he headed the Ministry of Finance of Armenia. Various  large businesses are affiliated with the name of Khachatryan, both in  Armenia and abroad.