On September 11, the wiretapping of the call of the National Security Service Director Arthur Vanetsyan and Sasun Khachatryan, the Head of the Special Investigation Service, appeared in the internet.
The officials talked about the detention of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan, the arrest of CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, arresting Seyran Ohanyan.
Minutes later, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a live broadcast on Facebook and touched upon the recording, noting the fact of wiretapping and that it’s a question who did it and for what purpose?
Later, the director of the National Security Service and the head of the SIS called a press conference.
In his speech in the record, Arthur Vanetsyan mentioned the phone conversation with the first instance judge.
“The judge called me, and he was scared a bit, I told him to look through the whole case. It’s Hrach. His name is Hrach? Shortly, I mean the judge, who gives judgment for the arrest, I told him to be bold. He said let me look through the justifications Mr. Vanetsyan, then call you and report. I told him to study the justifications then call me and added that I do not care whether he wanted it or not but he must give judgment for the arrest,” Artur Ventsian said in the telephone conversation.
At the press conference he mentioned that he does not know the judge. “We talked with Sasun Khachatryan on the phone, and there might be some inaccuracies in that conversation because we never thought that our conversation would be wiretapped and publicized. I have never talked to that judge,” Artur Vanesyan said at the press conference.
At the press conference he mentioned that he does not know the judge. “We talked with Sasun Khachatryan on the phone, and there might be some inaccuracies in that conversation because we never thought that our conversation would be wiretapped and publicized. I have never talked to that judge,” Artur Vanesyan said at the press conference.
Sasun Khachatryan, the head of the Special Investigation Service, also mentioned Vahe Grigoryan, an attorney for the March 1 case.
“Sasun Khachatryan – Now Vahe shall come to me, Grigoryan, Vahe will write something serious, and will make a speech and answer all the questions. Simply my speech shall not be right My speech shall not be right now.
Artur Vanesyan – No, no. Let Vahe speak as an attorney as an expert.
Sasun Khachatryan: As an expert. He represents this case at European Court as an expert, doesn’t he?”
Iravaban.net contacted with Vahe Grigoryan, a lawyer representing successors of the victims of the March 1 case, in a conversation with us he said that he had not heard the recording yet, but at the same time did not deny his cooperation with the SIS.
In response to our question, what cooperation was there with Vahe Grigoryan and what speech was expected, Sasun Khachatryan the SIS Head said: “The investigative body and the victims are on the same procedural aspect, and we are eager to hear not only the victims, but also the lawyers of the accused. That is, communication with attorneys and representatives is a normal phenomenon. Vahe Grigoryan’s and my views coincide on many issues, we cooperate as lawyers. I know Vahe Grigoryan from his student years, and our cooperation regarding this case is completely formal.”
Notably, Sasun Khachatryan, Head of the Special Investigative Service, referring to the case of March 1, stated that though the second Armenian president Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers insist that they did not participate in the events of March 1, 2008, but the criminal case justified that the army had participated and in addition the army fired in the direction of people’s apartments.
“And the most disgraceful thing that was done by former high ranking officials is to hire mercenaries from our army. The criminal case has been substantiated, and I will present the documents that oligarchs have diverted money from February 23 to March 7-8, for protecting their possessions and their interests,” he said.
Arthur Vanesyan also disclosed information on Robert Kocharyan’s property.
Head of the National Security Service Arthur Vannetsyan stated that the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has a considerable wealth, and it is about hundreds of millions. “We will talk about the facts and say who has what. We shall publicize how the “Congress Hotel” was obtained, as a result of a $ 6 million bribe, and the rest of the property as well, “he said.
Later, the office of RA second President Robert Kocharyan made a statement.
“President Robert Kocharyan is being pursued by political persecution, which is directly directed by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The conversation between the director of the National Security Service and the SIS head does not put any doubts, “the statement said.
Alisa Chilingaryan
Zakar Iskandaryan
