Latest news with #Minasyan
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Armenia charges two top opposition politicians, readies indictment against another
By Lucy Papachristou (Reuters) -Authorities in Armenia indicted two senior politicians from a pro-Russian opposition coalition for corruption-related crimes on Tuesday, as prosecutors prepared to file charges against another MP. Opposition groups have decried the criminal investigation against the politicians - Seyran Ohanyan, Artsvik Minasyan and Artur Sargsyan - as politically motivated. The three are members of Armenia Alliance, a parliamentary group led by Robert Kocharyan, who served as the South Caucasus country's president from 1998 to 2008. Led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has moved closer to the West, signalling that it wants to join the European Union and distancing itself from traditional ally Russia. But Pashinyan, who swept to power during street protests in 2018, has entered into a bitter confrontation in recent months with senior religious figures as well as a top businessman and a former political rival as he faces parliamentary elections next year. Armenian prosecutors say Ohanyan and Minasyan participated in a scheme to in which the former, then the country's defence minister, acquired a plot of land belonging to a nature reserve and built a house there. Minasyan, a former environment minister, gave his assent to the sale, investigators say. Ohanyan, the parliamentary leader for Armenia Alliance, was charged with abuse of power, money laundering, bribery and other crimes on Tuesday, Armenpress state news agency reported. The faction's secretary, Minasyan, was charged with abuse of power. Both deny wrongdoing. Prosecutors say the third Armenia Alliance MP, Sargsyan, participated in an attempted coup plot allegedly orchestrated by a prominent Christian cleric last month. The cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, is currently in detention. Sargsyan has denied involvement, according to Armenpress. Parliament on Tuesday gave prosecutors a green light to indict Sargsyan, after earlier stripping him and the two others of their parliamentary immunity.
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Armenia charges two top opposition politicians, readies indictment against another
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan waves as he arrives to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Authorities in Armenia indicted two senior politicians from a pro-Russian opposition coalition for corruption-related crimes on Tuesday, as prosecutors prepared to file charges against another MP. Opposition groups have decried the criminal investigation against the politicians - Seyran Ohanyan, Artsvik Minasyan and Artur Sargsyan - as politically motivated. The three are members of Armenia Alliance, a parliamentary group led by Robert Kocharyan, who served as the South Caucasus country's president from 1998 to 2008. Led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has moved closer to the West, signalling that it wants to join the European Union and distancing itself from traditional ally Russia. But Pashinyan, who swept to power during street protests in 2018, has entered into a bitter confrontation in recent months with senior religious figures as well as a top businessman and a former political rival as he faces parliamentary elections next year. Armenian prosecutors say Ohanyan and Minasyan participated in a scheme to in which the former, then the country's defence minister, acquired a plot of land belonging to a nature reserve and built a house there. Minasyan, a former environment minister, gave his assent to the sale, investigators say. Ohanyan, the parliamentary leader for Armenia Alliance, was charged with abuse of power, money laundering, bribery and other crimes on Tuesday, Armenpress state news agency reported. The faction's secretary, Minasyan, was charged with abuse of power. Both deny wrongdoing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Sport Speeding likely cause of Diogo Jota car crash: Police Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses Prosecutors say the third Armenia Alliance MP, Sargsyan, participated in an attempted coup plot allegedly orchestrated by a prominent Christian cleric last month. The cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, is currently in detention. Sargsyan has denied involvement, according to Armenpress. Parliament on Tuesday gave prosecutors a green light to indict Sargsyan, after earlier stripping him and the two others of their parliamentary immunity. REUTERS
Straits Times
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Armenia charges top opposition politician, readies indictments against two others
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan waves as he arrives to attend the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Authorities in Armenia indicted a senior politician from a pro-Russian opposition coalition for corruption-related crimes on Tuesday, as prosecutors prepared to file charges against two other MPs. Opposition groups have decried the criminal investigation against the politicians - Seyran Ohanyan, Artsvik Minasyan and Artur Sargsyan - as politically motivated. The three are members of Armenia Alliance, a parliamentary group led by Robert Kocharyan, who served as the South Caucasus country's president from 1998 to 2008. Led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Armenia has moved closer to the West, signalling that it wants to join the European Union and distancing itself from traditional ally Russia. But Pashinyan, who swept to power during street protests in 2018, has entered into a bitter confrontation in recent months with senior religious figures as well as a top businessman and a former political rival as he faces parliamentary elections next year. Armenian prosecutors say Ohanyan and Minasyan participated in a scheme to in which the former, then the country's defence minister, acquired a plot of land belonging to a nature reserve and built a house there. Minasyan, a former environment minister, gave his assent to the sale, investigators say. Ohanyan, the parliamentary leader for Armenia Alliance, said he had been summoned to appear before investigators and that he disagreed with the charges, the Armenpress state news agency reported on Tuesday. Minasyan also denies wrongdoing. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NDP celebrations to be held at 5 heartland sites, including Bishan and Punggol, on Aug 10 Singapore Keep citizens at the centre of public service, Chan Chun Sing tells civil servants Singapore Man arrested for allegedly throwing bottle at SMRT bus, injuring passenger Asia As Trump plays tariffs hard ball, Asean has little choice but to play on Asia PM Anwar called out by his own lawmakers as Malaysia's judicial crisis heats up Singapore SIA flight from Brisbane to Singapore diverted to Perth due to technical issue Sport Speeding likely cause of Diogo Jota car crash: Police Business Great Eastern could resume trading after delisting vote fails to pass; OCBC's exit offer lapses Prosecutors say the third Armenia Alliance MP, Sargsyan, participated in an attempted coup plot allegedly orchestrated by a prominent Christian cleric last month. The cleric, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan, is currently in detention. Sargsyan has denied involvement, according to Armenpress. Parliament on Tuesday gave prosecutors a green light to indict Minasyan and Sargsyan, after earlier stripping them of their parliamentary immunity. REUTERS
OC Media
08-07-2025
- Politics
- OC Media
Armenian Parliament waives immunity for 3 MPs, including one accused in coup plot
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member The Armenian Parliament has waived the immunity of three MPs from the opposition Armenia Alliance faction, including senior members Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan. Parliament has also given the Prosecutor General leave to criminally charge Artur Sargsyan, another MP from the same faction, related to Holy Struggle's alleged coup plot. Parliament waived immunity for Ohanyan and Minasyan on Monday, allowing the authorities to press charges against the two senior opposition figures. According to the Prosecutor General's appeal, Ohanyan has been accused of unlawfully acquiring a 10,526-square-meter plot of land near Lake Sevan, designated as a nature reserve within the Sevan National Park. He was also accused of building a private house without approval and of not declaring ownership of the house since becoming an MP in 2021. Ohanyan is also accused of receiving ֏58 million ($151,000) in bribes during his term as defence minister for providing illegal advantages in the ministry's procurement processes. Minasyan was accused of failing to fulfil his official duties during his time as Environmental Protection Minister. Minasyan allegedly did not take measures to 'eliminate the consequences' of Ohanyan's violations, and did not 'ensure the application of legal accountability measures' against him, thereby causing significant damage to the state. The two MPs previously held ministerial positions under previous governments, and are currently members of Robert Kocharyan's Armenia Alliance, the largest opposition faction. Ohanyan serves as the faction's parliamentary leader. Advertisement Armenia's Prosecutor General requested parliament waive immunity for Ohanyan and Minasyan in mid-June, a month after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused the opposition of corruption during a parliamentary session. 'We will remove you by force of law' The Prosecutor General demanded that parliament waive immunity for Artur Sargsyan on Monday in order to charge him with conspiracy to commit terrorism and seize power for participating in Holy Struggle's alleged coup plot, for which at least 15 people were detained on charges of seeking to violently overthrow the government. In a speech in parliament on Tuesday, Sargsyan dismissed the charges, calling them illegal. 'I officially declare that there is no such thing, there has not been and there cannot be any evidence', said Sargsyan, according to Civilnet. 'We will remove you by force of law and by all methods not prohibited', he addressed Pashinyan. According to Civilnet, Sargsyan concluded his speech by saying he would spend time with his family before appearing before the Investigative Committee. They reported that an argument and a scuffle broke out in parliament after he had left the hall. Later, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan issued a statement strongly condemning the brawl in parliament, saying 'Parliament must be a platform for democratic debate, not a battlefield'.
