Prosperous Armenia Party leader reiterates that the charges brought against him are politically motivated
16.06.2020,
15:28
Gagik Tsarukyan, a wealthy businessman and chairman of the second largest, opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) in the Armenian parliament, has reiterated today that the charges brought against him are politically motivated.
YEREVAN, June 16. /ARKA/. Gagik Tsarukyan, a wealthy businessman and chairman of the second largest, opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) in the Armenian parliament, has reiterated today that the charges brought against him are politically motivated.
The parliament is considering today a motion, submitted by the prosecutor general asking for permission to strip Gagik Tsarukyan of his immunity and to arrest him. Tsarukyan is accused of creating and leading an organized group that bought more than 17,000 votes for his Prosperous Armenia Party during parliamentary elections held in April 2017. He is also accused of conducting illegal economic activity.
Speaking in parliament today, Tsarukyan claimed that the administration of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan failed the 'velvet revolution' and collapsed the economy.
“They claim that Tsarukyan handed out bribes to buy votes and show a piece of paper. Is there any evidence? "he said. He claimed that the bulk of Armenian citizens are on his side, and the authorities enjoy the support of no more than 5-7% of the people.
Tsarukyan said he was convinced that the criminal case against him was fabricated because he began to criticize the authorities. "You deceived the people, did not fulfill the promises, people are in a difficult situation," he said, arguing that anti-government rallies would begin after the end of the state of emergency.
Immediately after the speech, Tsarukyan headed for the exit, refusing to answer the questions of the deputies, and left the parliament hall.
Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) said in three subsequent statements on June 15 that its Investigative Department collected sufficient evidence showing that Tsarukyan was engaged in illegal commercial activity conducted through two of his gambling firms having caused damages to the government in the amount of $61 million. Tsarukyan is also accused of seizing illegally a land area for his Arinj Mall that caused damages to the tune of over $800,000 and the third accusation is that Tsarukyan and his party ran a vote-buying scheme for the 2017 parliamentary elections. -0-
The parliament is considering today a motion, submitted by the prosecutor general asking for permission to strip Gagik Tsarukyan of his immunity and to arrest him. Tsarukyan is accused of creating and leading an organized group that bought more than 17,000 votes for his Prosperous Armenia Party during parliamentary elections held in April 2017. He is also accused of conducting illegal economic activity.
Speaking in parliament today, Tsarukyan claimed that the administration of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan failed the 'velvet revolution' and collapsed the economy.
“They claim that Tsarukyan handed out bribes to buy votes and show a piece of paper. Is there any evidence? "he said. He claimed that the bulk of Armenian citizens are on his side, and the authorities enjoy the support of no more than 5-7% of the people.
Tsarukyan said he was convinced that the criminal case against him was fabricated because he began to criticize the authorities. "You deceived the people, did not fulfill the promises, people are in a difficult situation," he said, arguing that anti-government rallies would begin after the end of the state of emergency.
Immediately after the speech, Tsarukyan headed for the exit, refusing to answer the questions of the deputies, and left the parliament hall.
Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) said in three subsequent statements on June 15 that its Investigative Department collected sufficient evidence showing that Tsarukyan was engaged in illegal commercial activity conducted through two of his gambling firms having caused damages to the government in the amount of $61 million. Tsarukyan is also accused of seizing illegally a land area for his Arinj Mall that caused damages to the tune of over $800,000 and the third accusation is that Tsarukyan and his party ran a vote-buying scheme for the 2017 parliamentary elections. -0-
