“The entry of the criminal world to the political elite of the Republic of Armenia can only occur upon approval by Serzh Sargsyan”
18:33, December 26, 2017 | News, Other news
Taking into account the list published by the US Treasury Department, according to which sanctions were placed on 10 RF citizens for being engaged in deals with the criminal world, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia should initiate proceedings against Ruben Tatulyan of Armenian nationality, whose name was entered on that list. This was told by human rights defender Artur Sakunts when speaking to Lragir.am.
It should be recalled that Ruben Tatulyan, who is known by the nickname Robson, is a member of the Investors’ Club of Armenia, has an Armenian diplomatic passport.
Sakunts recalls that, under the current legislation, a diplomatic passport is also provided personally by the President of the Republic.
Some of the diplomatic passports are provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the others are provided personally by Serzh Sargsyan. However, according to the human rights defender, there was no clarification by the authorities as to on what grounds, at whose proposal and for what purpose Tatulyan was given a consular passport.
“Proceedings should be initiated with regard to Robson’s immediate link to Serzh Sargsyan and what constitutes the motive of this cooperation. The public should be clearly aware of the grounds on which the authorities are making decisions and whether there are no personal interests that lie at the basis of those decisions”, said Sakunts.
According to the human rights defender, if the US Treasury Department is placing sanctions on people on such grounds, there are serious reasons for assuming that the deals made by those people involve actions to be criminally prosecuted for. In this case, the provision of an Armenian diplomatic passport gives rise to a serious concern. This is a question which should at least be commented on by Baghramyan 26.
Artur Sakunts recalls that months ago there was information on Ruben Tatulyan, member of the Investors’ Club of Armenia, having a link to the criminal world. Serious discussions were held but back then there was no comment or clarification provided by the RA authorities. Thus, they remained silent on the issue. Moreover, there were also discussions that Serzh Sargsyan personally has a link to the criminal world, with regard to which photographs were published.
“It showed that the talks about Serzh Sargsyan’s links to the criminal world were more than justified. In addition, right at that time it became clear that Robson also has a diplomatic passport as a consul of the Republic of Armenia”, added he.
Now, according to Sakunts, attempts are being made to pin the blame on Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan.
“Indeed, being a representative of the Russian business, Karen Karapetyan cannot have no links to the criminal world, like the entire Russian elite. However, their entry to the criminal elite can only occur upon approval by Serzh Sargsyan. Yet, the deliberate target of discussions appears to be beyond Serzh Sargsyan”, said Sakunts.
He recalls another example. Last year there was information that criminal authority Shakro Molodoy spent his winter vacations in Armenia. He was met by MP Samvel Alexanyan and President of the Football Federation Ruben Hayrapetyan.
“And a meeting of such a level could not have been without Serzh Sargsyan’s approval. It means that this is yet another noteworthy fact on the evidence of cooperation with the criminal world at highest levels.
There was no comment by the General Prosecutor’s Office. Only the Police informed that everyone is free to move as long as there is no criminal case instituted against them”, said the human rights defender.