YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—The Armenian tax authorities started a financial inspection of the Civilitas Foundation, a think-tank founded by Vartan Oskanian following the controversial launch of criminal proceedings against the former foreign minister critical of the government.
The foundation announced on Friday that officials from the State Revenue Committee (SRC) visited its offices to request “financial documentation since the Foundation’s establishment in May 2008.”
Oskanian confirmed the information on Monday, linking the tax audit with a criminal case opened against him and Civilitas by the National Security Service (NSS). “I think the investigation by the tax agency could be useful for us and they will see that everything was done at Civilitas in accordance with the letter and spirit of the law,” he told reporters.
Oskanian, who is a senior member of the opposition-leaning Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), spoke outside the NSS headquarters in downtown Yerevan following his third interrogation in the ongoing criminal investigation into money laundering alleged by the feared security agency. He said he again refused to give formal testimony to NSS investigators.
The NSS chief, Gorik Hakobian, last week condemned Oskanian’s refusal to testify. Hakobian said that if the former minister indeed considers himself innocent then he must “explain, yell, write, and tell everyone that he is honest.”
“One does not have to prove innocence, one has to prove guilt,” countered Tigran Atanesian, Oskanian’s lawyer. “Let them try to do that.”
The case stems from a nearly $2 million donation which Civilitas received from two U.S. companies last year. The NSS claims that Civilitas failed to declare the donation to tax authorities. Oskanian, who resigned as chairman of Civilitas’s governing board earlier this year, denies that and says the case is politically motivated.
The criminal case was opened on May 25, the day after the BHK announced its decision to pull out of the country’s ruling coalition. Oskanian strongly backed that decision.
‘Fear security agency’?? This is not the Stasi we are talking about.
I find the statement of NSS Chief Gorik Hacobian baffling. He first launches a criminal case and then starts doing his investigation. The reputation of the Armenian government is sullied when it comes to intimidating parties that the government feels may present a threat to them in the future. We cannot have democracy without democratice institutions. Consequently, an attack on Civilitas is an affront to all who desire a democratic Armenia. I call on all Armenians to take a position on this issue.
This kind of stuff makes Armenia look like a Banana Republic. No one respects a country which doesn’t respect it’s laws, it’s population, its elder statesman.
Interview of Salpi Ghazarian
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4o4YRMu0NUw
Well, karma is working.What goes around, comes around! I do not have any pity for Mr. Oskanyan.He was supporting this criminal and anti-democratic mafia members. He did not say anything regarding March events and ten innocent victims. Instead he was trying cover up them by denying the facts.He was aware of lack of democracy and basic human rights, but he closed his eyes and got millions from USA.He was a very unsuccessful foreign minister and have done nothing good for our country.If you have bad friends you have to take the bad consequences. Same thing for Salbi.