Former Karabakh defense minister sentenced to six years in prison
28.11.2017,
13:54
The court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash districts sentenced Tuesday Samvel Babayan, former Nagorno-Karabakh defense minister to six years in prison finding him guilty of money laundering, incitement to illegal acquisition, possession and trafficking of armament.
YEREVAN, November 28. /ARKA/. The court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash districts sentenced Tuesday Samvel Babayan, former Nagorno-Karabakh defense minister to six years in prison finding him guilty of money laundering, incitement to illegal acquisition, possession and trafficking of armament.
On March 22, 2017, Armenia’s prosecutor general’s office reported about IGLA short-range air defense system that have been found by the National Security Service on its way from Georgia to Armenia.
Three men have been detained then in suspicion of involvement of the offence, and Samvel Babayan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s former defense minister, was among them.
Earlier, the prosecutor demanded a seven-year imprisonment for Babayan, who never pleaded guilty.
Karen Kocharyan, another defendant in the money laundering case, received a suspended sentence - two years and six months.
Three others - Zhora Zakaryan, Andranik Kocahryan and David Harutyunyan- received a two-year suspended sentence each.
Two men involved in illicit acquisition of weapons – Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan – were sentenced to three and two years in prison respectively.
Babayan was indicted for acquiring in Russia for 2,900 US dollars 100 banknotes of 50 euro each, which had been stolen earlier.
The banknotes had been colored with a special ink and take out from the legal circulation.
Babayan has reportedly bought the banknotes and put four of them to test chemical cleaning to hide their criminal origin to use them in Armenia’s territory.
He was also indicted for incitement to illegal acquisition of IGLA short-range air defense system.
It was said in the indictment that Babayan has promised $50,000 to a mediator for that.
Samvel Babayan has been the commander of Krabakh army over a period between 1993 and 1999 and signed the documents setting ceasefire in 1994.
In 2000, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for organizing the attempted assassination of Arkady Ghukasyan, the present presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, but was pardoned 4.5 years later. --0---
On March 22, 2017, Armenia’s prosecutor general’s office reported about IGLA short-range air defense system that have been found by the National Security Service on its way from Georgia to Armenia.
Three men have been detained then in suspicion of involvement of the offence, and Samvel Babayan, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s former defense minister, was among them.
Earlier, the prosecutor demanded a seven-year imprisonment for Babayan, who never pleaded guilty.
Karen Kocharyan, another defendant in the money laundering case, received a suspended sentence - two years and six months.
Three others - Zhora Zakaryan, Andranik Kocahryan and David Harutyunyan- received a two-year suspended sentence each.
Two men involved in illicit acquisition of weapons – Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan – were sentenced to three and two years in prison respectively.
Babayan was indicted for acquiring in Russia for 2,900 US dollars 100 banknotes of 50 euro each, which had been stolen earlier.
The banknotes had been colored with a special ink and take out from the legal circulation.
Babayan has reportedly bought the banknotes and put four of them to test chemical cleaning to hide their criminal origin to use them in Armenia’s territory.
He was also indicted for incitement to illegal acquisition of IGLA short-range air defense system.
It was said in the indictment that Babayan has promised $50,000 to a mediator for that.
Samvel Babayan has been the commander of Krabakh army over a period between 1993 and 1999 and signed the documents setting ceasefire in 1994.
In 2000, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison for organizing the attempted assassination of Arkady Ghukasyan, the present presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, but was pardoned 4.5 years later. --0---
