Armenian Central Bank denies media reports about FBI checking of Armenian banks
25.10.2010,
17:37
Armenia’s Central Bank denied Saturday media reports claiming that it had warned all Armenian banks that a team of FBI investigators will examine the origin of some of their money transfer transactions.
YEREVAN, October 25, /ARKA/. Armenia’s Central Bank denied Saturday media reports claiming that it had warned all Armenian banks that a team of FBI investigators will examine the origin of some of their money transfer transactions.
A press officer for the Central Bank, Zaruhi Barseghian, said described these reports as ‘inconsistent with reality because nothing of that kind can ever happen.’
FBI investigators have arrived in Armenia to try to find out the connections of Armenian nationals who are among of an Armenian-American criminal syndicate that allegedly filed some $100 million in fake claims to Medicare government health insurance program.
The pro-opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak claimed in its October 23 issue that the Central Bank of Armenia had warned all local banks that some of their money transfer transactions will be examined by FBI investigators.
The daily claimed that some of the suspects regularly traveled to Armenia , had criminal connections there and transferred criminal proceeds to the country, which ostensibly were laundered through investments in real estate.
The criminal syndicate was led by an Armenia-born Armen Kazarian, who was termed by prosecutor in the case, Preet Bharara, as a “vor v zakone,” or a thief in law – a Russian term for powerful figures in the criminal underworld of the former Soviet Union.
Kazarian was known in Armenia as a crime figure nicknamed “Pzo.” He emigrated to the United States in 1996, where he was granted U.S. citizenship. -0-
A press officer for the Central Bank, Zaruhi Barseghian, said described these reports as ‘inconsistent with reality because nothing of that kind can ever happen.’
FBI investigators have arrived in Armenia to try to find out the connections of Armenian nationals who are among of an Armenian-American criminal syndicate that allegedly filed some $100 million in fake claims to Medicare government health insurance program.
The pro-opposition daily Haykakan Zhamanak claimed in its October 23 issue that the Central Bank of Armenia had warned all local banks that some of their money transfer transactions will be examined by FBI investigators.
The daily claimed that some of the suspects regularly traveled to Armenia , had criminal connections there and transferred criminal proceeds to the country, which ostensibly were laundered through investments in real estate.
The criminal syndicate was led by an Armenia-born Armen Kazarian, who was termed by prosecutor in the case, Preet Bharara, as a “vor v zakone,” or a thief in law – a Russian term for powerful figures in the criminal underworld of the former Soviet Union.
Kazarian was known in Armenia as a crime figure nicknamed “Pzo.” He emigrated to the United States in 1996, where he was granted U.S. citizenship. -0-
