Investigation Launched into Phone of Special Investigation Service Chief in Wiretapping Case

The criminal case related to the illegal wiretapping and dissemination of phone conversations between Arthur Vanetsyan, who held the position of Director of Armenia's National Security Service since 2018, and Sasun Khachatryan, the head of the Special Investigation Service, has led to an investigation into Khachatryan's mobile phone. This was reported by 168.am.

“At the same time, we find it necessary to inform that other details obtained in connection with this criminal case are not subject to publication and are considered pre-investigation secrets,” stated the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

The Investigative Committee is examining phone conversations from September 11 and December 5, 2018, which were posted online, involving Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Arthur Vanetsyan, as well as Sasun Khachatryan and Arthur Vanetsyan. The case involves allegations of abuse of official power by the mentioned officials, which constitutes a criminal act under part 1 of Article 309 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The investigation also examines issues related to potential interference in the administration of justice concerning judges who reviewed the requests for the arrest of Robert Kocharyan and Yuri Khachaturov.

In this criminal case, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has appeared as a witness before the main investigative directorate of the Investigative Committee of Armenia and was questioned about possible interference in the courts.

The Investigative Committee is also reviewing the case opened under part 1 of Article 146 of the Criminal Code regarding the illegal wiretapping and dissemination of phone conversations between the former director of the NSS and the head of the SIS, in which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has been interrogated as a victim, regarding the violation of his rights and legal interests caused by the illegal wiretap and recording, as well as several other circumstances of interest to the case.