Armenian MP Charged With Assault, Tax Evasion

17 October 2006

Hakob Hakobian, a controversial businessman and parliament deputy, has been
formally indicted and will likely stand trial on a string of charges that could
land him in prison for up to seven years.

The indictment was made possible by the Armenian parliament’s decision on Friday
to lift Hakobian’s immunity from prosecution over his alleged role in the
October 8 mass brawl at a gas distribution station near Yerevan.


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=16185


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=16182


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=16181

Watchdog Says Corruption In Armenia On Rise

17 October 2006

Corruption in Armenia remains widespread and has even increased in recent years
despite government claims to the contrary, local representatives of an
international anti-graft watchdog insisted on Tuesday.

Amalia Kostanian, head of the Armenian branch of Transparency International,
said that an anti-corruption program adopted by the Armenian government three
years ago has failed to reduce the scale of corrupt practices. She reiterated
her view that the government lacks the “political will” to tackle the problem in
earnest...


www.hra.am/eng/?page=issue&id=16186