2018 August 8

Anti-Corruption Daily

Anti-Corruption 8/8/2018: 1) Fight has begun against illegal construction on Yerevan sidewalks; municipality under invstg. 2) Former PM's brother arrested for illegal weapons possession, possibly related to March 1st. 3) Min. of Emergency shuts down 12 gas stations for safety violations (MORE BELOW)
by ar_david_hh

Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams ֏ unless specified otherwise.

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After receiving a tip, NSS officers visit Artashat Vinkon factory belonging to former PM Hovik “Muk” Abrahamyan. His brother is arrested after large quantities of fully automatic and sniper rifles are found. The raid was part of March 1st investigation, but it is still unknown whether the weapons were used on March 1st https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDu7bHjSQlg

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March 1st witness is recognized as a victim after 10 years. She tells her story...

She and her mother were walking few blocks away from the area where the shooting later took place. They saw the forces gathered together and getting ready for a movement. Mother recognized the commander as Grigor Grigoryan, who was the second in command of police forces of Yerevan. She asked him what they are going to do. "Don't kill people, they are our voice", she told the policeman. Grigoryan answered "What else are we supposed to do, let the Blind one come to power?" (Levon Ter-Petrosyan is blind in one eye). Police then pushed them to another street. There, they saw large gathering of forces. She approached the policemen and told them not to shoot at the people. A policeman allegedly struck her with a baton, and few other soldiers proceeded to assault them. A car arrived. Yuri Khachaturov (also charged with March1st events) got out of the car. Exchanged a few words with the forces, and left. Shortly later, the shootings took place few blocks away. She was called for a questioning only once by the former investigator, who ignored the report of assault by the police. Medical examination of her wounds was purposely postponed to a month later, when the bruises were gone. Her full story here...

https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29420491.html

General prosecutor rejects the petition to have Robert Kocharyan released from detention. He will stay behind the bars for 2 months https://armenpress.am/arm/news/943144/

Sasna Tsrer Pavlik Manukyan will stay behind the bars, after the judge rejects a petition to release him. Another member will be released https://news.am/arm/news/465568.html

Ministry of Emergency shuts down 12 gas fuel stations for not following safety standards https://www.a1plus.am/1636509.html

State Oversight Service (the new agency that audits other gov agencies) has investigated reports by citizens regarding illegal building practices in Yerevan, found numerous violations, submitted a report to the police. For example, one business decided to expand the area by illegally cutting sidewalk trees, and when the rank-and-file municipality agents told the business to stop, they were given a "stand down" order from higher ups, to allow the business to continue. The police department is investigating https://youtu.be/5SuLcIg3CZY?t=1102

Yerevan acting HHK mayor Kamo Areyan vows to fight against unregulated street trade in the city, especially the center, where in recent times various safety hazards have emerged as a result of unsafe and illegal trading practices https://www.a1plus.am/1636446.html

RA police chief opens an internal investigation after Armavir resident is allegedly beaten by a local police chief and his subordinates https://www.a1plus.am/1636606.html

Sanitek, the garbage collection company that has received numerous complaints for slow work, has received an AMD 12mln penalty for breach of contract https://armenpress.am/arm/news/943156/

After negotiations with PM cabinet a month earlier, Ardshinbank begins the process of easing housing purchase conditions for new families. Families who buy houses in provinces will get twice as much interest reduction than those in Yerevan https://news.am/arm/news/465515.html

Defense Ministry seeks the public opinion around a new proposal to reform the ways parcels are sent and delivered to the frontline soldiers https://armenpress.am/arm/news/943193/

3,000 RA and RUS soldiers conduct military exercises https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQX0VAJjiv4

Former president of Salvador pleaded guilty to embezzlement of $300mln https://armenpress.am/arm/news/943139/

Former prime minster of Malaysia is charged with money laundering https://news.am/arm/news/465518.html

Artsakh army reports a large explosion in Azeri lines, followed by shouting by the soldiers, then shootings. An ambulance car with several military vehicles were rushed to the scene https://youtu.be/5SuLcIg3CZY?t=254

Another news site is censored in Azerbaijan, after being accused of being biased and unethical https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29419858.html

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/95qyl3/anticorruption_882018_1_fight_has_begun_against/