David Tonoyan Summoned for Questioning by the Special Investigative Service, Artak Davtyan Also Involved in the Same Case

The former Minister of Defense David Tonoyan has been summoned for questioning by the Special Investigative Service (SIS). According to information obtained by Yerevan.Today, he has given quite contradictory testimonies during the questioning.

In particular, regarding deviations in state procurements established for military needs, David Tonoyan mentioned Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s name, indicating that the purchases outside the general plan were coordinated with the Prime Minister, and there are numerous reports about this, thus drawing the attention of law enforcement to this circumstance.

Moreover, Tonoyan has requested an investigation into the correspondence between his agency regarding the procurement of military equipment from third countries and the government.

It should be emphasized that the minister, who lost the war, was summoned as a witness for the questioning and was in the room of investigator Garegin Begoyan.

The media managed to contact the head of the investigative group, Garegin Begoyan, to inquire about the criminal case in connection with which the former minister was questioned, and whether General Artur Davtyan was also questioned as a witness in the same case. Begoyan responded, "I cannot provide details or actions related to this criminal case due to pre-investigation interest; please refer to the press service." Nonetheless, it has been reported that General Artak Davtyan has also been summoned for questioning in connection with the criminal case initiated on November 16, who was appointed by Nikol Pashinyan as the Chief of the General Staff today.

Just yesterday, General-Lieutenant Artak Davtyan, who had been inactive, stepped into the General Staff through a military maneuver. Yesterday noon, Minister of Defense Vagharshak Harutyunyan assigned him to a decorative position in the General Staff to ensure that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has his trusted eyes and ears amidst the ongoing turbulent events surrounding Chief of Staff Onik Gasparyan.

Artak Davtyan, who is involved in the serious crime investigation by the SIS, could potentially become the Chief of Staff by assuming the position vacated by Onik Gasparyan, who became a victim of political whims. He was offered the position of Chief of Staff today.

Interestingly, the questioning of Artak Davtyan, who is involved in a corruption scandal under investigation, coincided with the arrest of infamous dealer Davit Galstyan, known as Patron Davo. It can be concluded that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan should be next in line for questioning. Whether the head of the SIS, Sasun Khachatryan, will dare to summon him remains to be seen in the developments to come.

Another important factor is that it is possible that Artak Davtyan and David Tonoyan were summoned for questioning based on the scandalous declarations made by former Chief of the General Staff, former military inspector, General-Major Movses Hakobyan, leading to the initiation of a criminal case. Official information from the SIS has not been available to us; the press service states that they do not have the authority to disclose the names of those summoned for questioning since the case is still in the investigation phase.

It has also come to the attention of the media that the former chairman of the Military-Industrial Committee, Avetik Kerobyan, has been questioned by the SIS. Moreover, it seems that he is involved in two criminal cases with identical grounds regarding the procurement of military supplies and suspicious deviations from the general plan (such as the Su-30, OSA AK system purchases), etc.

One of the scandalous statements made by Avetik Kerobyan was, “I have witnessed cases where, in the literal sense, uncontrolled changes were made to that order, and orders to factories were reduced; this was done hastily, without any logic. Thus, these funds were directed to other purposes through deviations from the plan. Budget allocations intended for arms and ammunition production were redirected for other expenses. Many such cases have occurred throughout the year.” Regarding Armenia’s acquisition of used, rusty OSA AK weaponry, Kerobyan confirmed that they were procured in operational condition and that these purchases were also outside the military plan. “In October 2017, a new program for the development of the armed forces was adopted, including the formation of military equipment to meet the future military needs of the army. Since May 2018, following the revolution, that program has undergone changes regularly. However, I witnessed that even purchases outside the modified program were made, including the OSA AK systems acquired from an Arab country. Their acquisition can be considered at least illogical, given our air defense situation and needs. The OSA AK system was intended as a mobile air defense tool and a means to protect mobile equipment. That technology was not adequately maintained or properly repaired, and thus was unprepared for the war,” said the former chairman of the Military-Industrial Committee, Avetik Kerobyan.