YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Law enforcement authorities should look into Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan’s allegations about the embezzlement of budgetary funds allocated for government officials’ travel expenses, a leader of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation said on Wednesday.
Karapetyan angrily denounced the “primitive theft” last week as his cabinet approved a new electronic system for the purchase of air tickets for officials travelling abroad on business. But he did not implicate any government agency or official in the alleged practice. Nor did law-enforcement bodies launch criminal proceedings in connection with his claim.
“I think that [the statement] should certainly be followed by concrete actions,” said ARF’s Armen Rustamian. “If the prime minister spoke about theft, he has all the levers and resources to dig deeper and substantiate that statement.”
“This must become the subject of a criminal case,” Rustamian told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
None of the ARF ministers has publicly called for a criminal investigation into Karapetian’s claim.
Eduard Sharmazanov, the spokesman for ruling Republican Party of Armenia, was reluctant to comment on the lack of such an inquiry. “I’m the spokesman for the Republican Party of Armenia, not the prime minister,” he said.
Sharmazanov also claimed that Karapetyan talked about a “general philosophy,” rather than concrete cases of government corruption.
Justice Minister Arpine Hovannisian likewise said on Monday that the premier merely condemned the failure of various government agencies to properly perform their duties. Under Armenian law, that is not sufficient grounds for prosecuting government officials, she said.
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As a gesture to those “forces of change” Mr. Sargsyan recently has tried to invoke, I suggest that Armenia’s Justice Minister, Arpine Hovannisian, resign. She should be replaced by someone with a commitment to righteousness.
In a state as corrupt as Armenia, Ms. Hovannisian’s comments were completely off the mark. They would be laughable if the situation wasn’t so tragic.
When told about a corrupt situation, she should vow to investigate it. She should solicit further information. And what was her response? She didn’t have “sufficient grounds for prosecuting government officials.”
She herself is an example of the depths of the problems facing Armenia.
Pari louys, verdjabés, 25 dari, 3 naxakah, yérgir arounahos, néo soviétique, crypto communiste, PARI LOUYS, PARI KALOUST MER HAYRENIK