Today, July 7, the trial in the case of former Chairman of the Investigative Committee, former member of the Supreme Council, former Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan continued at the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court. The presiding judge is Tigran Davtyan.

According to Iravaban.net, Aghvan Hovsepyan’s son, Misak Hovsepyan, was questioned as a witness at this session.

Public prosecutor Koryun Serobyan directed questions to Misak Hovsepyan about business activities conducted jointly with Arshavir Sargsyan.

• During the previous questioning, you said that from 2006-2007 you started developing business activities with Arshavir Sargsyan, the first one established was “Surb Aghbyur” HPP, when I asked you what investments you made, you said you don’t remember whether you made an investment or not, you need to look at documents. Can you now provide any information?
• I said at the previous questioning that we did some transactional things, and the money generated from that we invested in Surb Aghbyur. At this moment I don’t remember what transactions we made, but the generated money was invested by mutual agreement. As for the HPP, it was built with credit means.
• Were the credit means taken by you?
• They were taken by the company.

The prosecutor said that 50 percent of the shares of that HPP belonged to another person, then was transferred to Aghvan Hovsepyan’s other son, Narek Hovsepyan, and asked if the shares belonged to his brother, what connection he had with the company.

Misak Hovsepyan said that his brother was not actively involved, was more engaged in state affairs, and for that reason he participated in work related to the company.

• For example, when I look at your birth year, you were 24 years old at that time, I want to understand what activity you performed before that.
• I already said the proposal came from him (Arshavir Sargsyan), I didn’t go to him, find him, he appeared in our life, he proposed, since my brother was engaged in public service, my father was engaged in public service, I had just graduated from university, was engaged in my activities, he was free in those transactions, decisions before my involvement. And what, at 24 years old one is not allowed to engage in something?
• Can you remember any company that you also jointly established before “Surb Aghbyur” HPP?
• He was completely involved, I had a desire, I am a dentist by profession, but I had a desire to engage in business. Taking into account the status of other family members, I was involved to some extent, but in the initial period he was very free in decisions, development directions.

The prosecutor inquired whether Misak Hovsepyan had ever transferred money to Arshavir Sargsyan by bank transfer or in cash, the latter said he had given money in cash. The prosecutor also asked about Arshavir Sargsyan taking a $600,000 loan and directing it to HPP construction, Misak Hovsepyan said he doesn’t remember whether he or his brother were guarantors for receiving the loan, but this issue was discussed with Sargsyan.

The public prosecutor also made inquiries about the acquaintance and communication between another witness in the case, Robert Nazaryan, and Misak Hovsepyan.

Let us recall that in this criminal case, Robert Nazaryan, who was the former chairman of the RA Public Services Regulatory Commission, also gave testimony in court. He had stated that Misak Hovsepyan and Arshavir came to him, who complained that the license issuance was being unnecessarily delayed, in their presence he contacted the heads of subdivisions at that time, trying to understand what the problem was.

He stated that he became acquainted with Misak Hovsepyan specifically through this case, the secretary at the workplace said that Hovsepyan Misak was waiting for him, at that moment he didn’t remember who the latter was, he clarified with a colleague, learned that it was about Aghvan Hovsepyan’s son. To the prosecutor’s question whether it’s possible that he had seen Misak Hovsepyan before, the witness answered that the latter had come to him one more time, at that time he was alone. During the first meeting he learned that Misak was Aghvan Hovsepyan’s son.

Misak Hovsepyan stated in court that he became acquainted with Robert Nazaryan during a general event, if he’s not mistaken, at the opening ceremony of the letter park built by his father.

“The water use permit was not related to the structure headed by Nazaryan Robert at that time. We discussed the license issue with each other, we discussed the ‘Vayots’ HPP, it’s not that we went to get all licenses; we discussed when there was material to discuss,” said Misak Hovsepyan.

To the prosecutor’s question whether there were cases when Narek Hovsepyan was also present at meetings with Robert Nazaryan, the latter said he doesn’t remember.

When questioning about “Vardahovit” HPP, Aghvan Hovsepyan’s defense attorney Anna Mantashyan requested a 2-minute recess of the court session. After the recess, the defense requested to postpone the session, stating that Aghvan Hovsepyan has high blood pressure and cannot continue under those conditions.

The court session was postponed, the next one will take place on July 17.

Details in the video.

Mariam Shahnazaryan