ARMENIAN NSC HEAD: CASE ON ILLEGAL ARMS TRAFFIC CANNOT REFLECT ON ARMENIA’S INTERNATIONAL AUTHORITY

No single contraband weapon was exported from Armenia, first deputy head of the National Security Service (NSC) Hrach Harutyunian stated at a joint press conference with FBI special agent, juridical attaché of the US government Bryan Parmar. The press conference was occasioned by the arrest of the Armenian citizens accused of trade in arms. According to Hrach Harutyunian, all the weapons including the 8 ones the detained have sold was obtained in the US. Artur Solomonian detained on March 16 in the US and his brother Levon Solomonian are citizens of Armenia and were staying in the US illegally after immigration due to a student program. March 17 the investigators of the Armenian NSC initiated a criminal case and arrested three more people – Spartak Yeribekian, Grigor Martirosian and Artur Solomonian. Later it turned out that Spartak Yeribekian and Artur Solomonian were fellow students and kept in touch. Artur Solomonian has chosen him to get the photos of the “goods”. The latter in his turn turned to one of his friend, commander of one of the military bases Armen Sargsian, who has shot the “goods” and sent the photos to the US via Internet. However, according to NSC first deputy head reported that Armen Sargsian has not been arrested yet as the kind of arms shot is not a state secret. In Harutyunian’s words, the thorough examination showed that all the weapons in the above mentioned military unit remained in their places. Not excluding the possibility of removing arms Harutyunian stressed that discipline has been tightened up and the formation of professional army is rapidly proceeding. According to Hrach Harutyunian this crime cannot reflect on Armenia’s international authority. On the contrary, Armenia is closely cooperating with a number of countries in struggle against international terrorism. “The cooperation has showed that Armenia is not the place from where arms can be exported. The case will be investigated and those to blame punished”, Bryan Parmar stressed. At the same time he noted that the US do not question the juridical system of Armenia and it makes no difference where the convicts will serve their service. Thus, those arrested in the US will be punished in the US and those detained in Armenia will stand trial in Armenia.