Ex-Armenian foreign minister says he is suspected of money laundering
YEREVAN. June 13 (Interfax) - Former Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian has claimed that the National Security Service summoned him to give testimony on money laundering charges.
The ex-minister said in a statement that the matter involves the Civilitas foundation that he leads now.
"Since the start of the foundation's activities in 2008, we have received financing from and pursued a joint program with the governments of the Netherlands, Poland, Norway and Germany, the U.S. embassy to Armenia, and the Yerevan office of the OSCE. The relevant Armenian institutions could not have failed to know this. It is strange that my activities could be somehow associated with criminal or illegal proceeds," Oskanian said.
"The criminal case that has been opened is politically motivated," he said.
Interfax could not immediately obtain comments on the matter from the Armenian National Security Service.