ArmInfo.Serzh Sargsyan's accusation of "diesel business" is only the beginning. Other accusations are likely to follow this one, the chairman of the club of journalists Levon Barseghyan expressed a similar opinion to ArmInfo.
"Honestly, I expected a similar outcome. Although, I rather expected that Sargsyan would be charged with his active participation in the crimes of March 1, 2008. However, I have some bias towards some officers of the NSS and the Special Investigation Service as to people who unquestioningly served Serzh Sargsyan in their time, "he said.
In this light, in the absence of lustration, deep cleansing in the NSS and the SIS, Barseghyan sees risks in terms of the fruitfulness of their activities in the investigation of existing and future criminal cases imputed to Sargsyan.
The third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, is accused of organizing embezzlement on an especially large scale - about 500 million drams. Sargsyan was charged on the grounds of clause 1 part 3 of article 38- 179 of the Criminal Code of RA - an act dangerous to society. The matter concerns the state program approved in 2013 by the Government on more affordable acquisition of diesel fuel for spring agricultural work. According to the investigation, exceeding the official authority, Sargsyan facilitated the purchase of diesel fuel from Flash Ltd at higher prices. A recognizance not to leave was taken as a measure of restraint against Sargsyan.
Commenting on the accusations made by the Republican Party that the authorities are trying to silence Sargsyan and prevent his foreign policy against them, the human rights activist assessed the former president's speech at the EPP forum in Zagreb as meaningless. According to him, today nothing prevents Sargsyan from giving a press conference in Armenia and answering all the questions asked to him.