Armenian ambassador says prepared to vouch for arrested Baring Vostok partner Abgaryan
MOSCOW. March 5 (Interfax) - Armenian Ambassador to Russia Vardan Toghanyan is prepared to vouch for businessman Vagan Abgaryan, a partner of the investment fund Baring Vostok arrested on fraud charges, because he knows him well and the diaspora has given positive recommendations.
"We usually vouch for people whom we know well and regarding whom we have positive recommendations from the Armenian diaspora, among others. And I personally know Vagan Abgaryan very well, in particular from his actions, his active attraction of investments," the ambassador said, replying to a question from Interfax on Tuesday.
Considerable importance is attached to the fact that "Abgaryan is an Armenian citizen, among other things," he said.
"As an ambassador, I regularly provide guarantees in many cases involving our compatriots. At the same time, we don't interfere in the activity of law enforcement agencies, we only request that they change a measure of restraint to something else, a non-custodial one," Toghanyan said.
Most recently, a plastic surgeon of Armenian descent was released from custody in Moscow under Toghanyan's guarantee following a change to a measure of restraint imposed on him, the ambassador said.
Baring Vostok partner Abgaryan and another five defendants in the criminal case, including the fund's founder Michael Calvey, were arrested on charges of embezzling over 2.5 million rubles from Vostochny Bank.