I Was at the NSS About 10 Days Ago: Hovhannes Shahinyan on NSS Statement

The National Security Service (NSS) has just released a statement indicating that instances of corruption and fraud have been uncovered involving the former head of the Arabkir administrative district in Yerevan.

The statement notes that the official who held the position from 2005 to 2008 committed official forgery based on group interests, deceitfully obtaining rights to especially large property of the community. Along with prior consent from council members, they alienated various real estate properties from the community at prices significantly lower than their market and cadastral values, through formal auctions or direct sales, resulting in a substantial loss to the community amounting to 300,000,000 AMD.

During the years referenced in the statement, Hovhannes Shahinyan led the Arabkir administrative district. He learned of the initiated criminal case through a message we sent. In an interview with ArmDaily.am, Shahinyan said he had been at the NSS about 10 days ago, as they had summoned him to provide explanations concerning his tenure as the community leader, noting that he has no official status in the matter.

Before calling him in, the NSS had also questioned individuals who held positions during that period, including council members. “But I exercised my right to refuse to provide explanations. I was informed that there is a statute of limitations, which they could utilize to initiate closings of the cases, but I rejected the notion of closure. I have demanded that a criminal case be initiated and examined, and if there are guilty parties, they should be held accountable… Those who utilize the statute of limitations should face the consequences for any violations or abuses of official positions,” he stated.

Regarding the incidents mentioned in the statement, the former mayor remarked that “the content of the statement resembles a chicken's laughter at the claims made.”

Hovhannes Shahinyan remarked that since the revolution, he has been summoned by numerous agencies including the Special Investigation Service (SIS), NSS, and others. However, he emphasized that he is not someone who can be silenced or intimidated, nor does he plan to hide or evade investigation.

Incidentally, Shahinyan is currently in Moscow, but he assured that he will definitely return to participate in the rally on October 8. When asked how he had traveled and whether he possibly holds Russian citizenship, Shahinyan clarified that he has never been a citizen of any other country and was able to travel with the existence of corresponding documents.