"I Was Taking the Money to Pay Debts" – Former Head of the Third President's Security Detail on Charges Against Him

Former head of the security detail for the third president, Serge Sargsyan, Vachagan Ghazaryan, stated in an interview with Armlur.am following a court session on March 29 that he does not possess any illicit property.

In response to a question regarding the source of 8 billion drams, given that he was a head of security and a driver, Ghazaryan said, "Ask the Prosecutor's Office."

Referring to a video published by the National Security Service in 2018, in which he was seen approaching a car with money he had withdrawn from a bank, he addressed the question of where he was taking that money, stating, "I was taking it to pay debts, I was taking it to those who had lent me money."

Ghazaryan denied the allegations that the money was given to him by David Galstyan, known as Patron David. He stressed that he only owes an explanation to the court about the origins of the funds.

When confronted with the statement that the money was taken at the taxpayers' expense, Ghazaryan replied, "It wasn’t because of you, it was because of friends; it was their money, I was taking it to pay them."

He dismissed claims that he does not maintain contact with the third president, Serge Sargsyan, stating, "I communicate very well; it’s a lie."