Armenian high-ranking army officer accused of high treason
YEREVAN, May 12. /ARKA/. Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) said today it has completed the investigation into a criminal case that involves a high-ranking army officer, who is accused of high treason.
The officer, who held a number of high-ranking positions in the Armenian armed forces is accused of high treason to the detriment of the security and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia and creation of an organized group that illegally acquired and stored weapons and ammunition.
The suspect was recruited by Azerbaijani special services in the neighboring Georgia several years ago and used to convey information about the armed forces, weapons, the security system of Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which constitute a state secret, to Azerbaijan.
According to NSS, using his army connections, the suspect collected and kept in his house information about the military units of Armenia and Artsakh, their deployment, the scale and types of military equipment and weapons (including heavy weapons), which he transferred to the enemy's special services during meetings in the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia.
The investigation also found that this officer was engaged in illegal business activities as part of an organized group, acquiring and importing military products into Armenia - more than 200 tank helmets with headphones, which were sold to a foreign citizen for almost 7.47 million drams (about $14.3 thousand).
In addition, he was illegally engaged in the acquisition, transportation and illegal storage of sniper rifles, machine guns, pistols, grenade launcher, cartridges and other weapons.
According to the NSS, the high-ranking officer was charged and arrested. The criminal case was referred to the prosecutor's office with an indictment for approval and further referral to court.
A suspect or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to a court ruling that has entered into legal force in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia. -0-
