YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Gagik Poghossian–an advisor to the Prime Minister and Chief of the Surveillance Service–was wounded as a granade exploded on Sept. 11–at 9:15 a.m.–on the threshold of his apartment on 35 Tumanian street. He was rushed to hospital where he later died. Poghossian’s son Khachik was also injured in the explosion.
The investigation is being carried out by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The press secretary of the prosecutor general Gurgen Abrahamian told reporters that a criminal case was instituted on point 6 of article 99 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (premeditated murder under aggravated circumstances committed with special brutality or by a method dangerous for the lives of many").
Gagik Poghossian was born in Yerevan–in 1952. In 1968-74 he studied at Yerevan light industry college–in 1991 he graduated from Belgrade (Yugoslavia) Economic Institute–in 1998 he graduated from Stavropol State University (Russia)–while in 2000 graduated from the Yerevan University after Hrachya Acharian..
While studying he worked at the "Motor" plant of Yerevan–"Nairi" shoe-making factory–Integrated Plant of Brittle Fibre and the "Masis" Production Association. In 1981-1991–he was chairman of the zoning department of Yerevan. In 1991 he established the Armenian-Italian "Imak" company. In 1995-1999–he was deputy of the Armenian Parliament and member of the Financial and Economic Commission. In 1998–he was leader of the customs office of the Ararat region. Since 1998 to present he was Head of the Surveillance Service of the Government–later of the prime minister of Armenia. In May of 2000 he was appointed as Minister of State Revenues of Armenia. On November 6–2000–he was relieved of the post of the Minister of State Revenues. He was the advisor of the prime minister and Head of his Surveillance Service.
Since 1998 he was member of the Republican Party. He was married and had three children.