Anti-Corruption Committee Arrests My Driver, Assistant, and Friend Aram Barseghyan: Armen Ashotyan

The Anti-Corruption Committee has arrested my driver, assistant, and friend Aram Barseghyan in connection with one of the criminal cases, who is accused of misusing state funds. This was stated by the Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia, Armen Ashotyan, in a Facebook post.

"This happened within the framework of a case that has been opened for several months now, and during this time, Aram has repeatedly left the country and returned, fully aware of the risk of prosecution. I have long known that since the beginning of the regime change, efforts have been made to 'search for dirt' on me and my circle. Seeing that they cannot fabricate a case directly against me, this government has turned against my friends and relatives. The authorities, who squandered 5,000,000 drams in a single day for washing carpets on Vardavar, gave illegal bonuses worth tens of millions to their incompetent and ineffective personnel, and are using public funds for extravagant family trips, accuse my assistant of having been registered as a worker or driver from 2009 to 2016 in order to earn several tens of thousands of drams for his hard work every day. Aram is a modest Armenian man with a simple lifestyle and demeanor. Many of my colleagues, including many working in today’s National Assembly and Government, are aware of this.

If it is proven that Aram Barseghyan has harmed the state budget, it is clear that that amount will be reclaimed fully and in a timely manner, with the help of myself and other friends. The arrest of my close associate is purely political and directly related to me. The government responds to my reasoned criticism with such low, cheap actions, attempting to silence me through criminal prosecution against my loved ones. It is evident that this directive was issued directly by Nikol Pashinyan. They will not succeed.

Listen, I am telling you: if you have questions regarding me, if I am an obstacle for you, if you want to come after me, please do it directly with me. Dragging my relatives into this kind of situation is neither humane, nor manly, nor moral. In the legal context, it is also vulnerable.

I also announce that Aram’s defense will be conducted by lawyer Tigran Atanesyan. That is all for now," wrote Ashotyan.