Armenia’s former defense minister is Russian citizen

Former Armenian defense minister Mikael Harutyunyan is a Russian citizen, Marina Ohanjanyan, a press secretary for Armenia’s Investigative Committee, said today.

YEREVAN, December 25 /ARKA/. Former Armenian defense minister Mikael Harutyunyan is a Russian citizen, Marina Ohanjanyan, a press secretary for Armenia’s Investigative Committee, said today. "We have sent an additional request to clarify since when he has been a citizen of Russia," she said.

Mikael Harutyunyan is wanted by the law-enforcement authorities as a defendant in the case  that dates back to late February and early March 2008 following the disputed presidential election, when then prime minister Serzh Sargsyan was declared the winner.  

Mikaelyan is accused of illegally using the Armenian armed forces against opposition supporters in the wake of the election.

The same charge is brought against Yuri Khachaturov, who had been the chief of the Yerevan garrison at the time of the bloody events. Khachaturov was detained by then released on a 5 million dram bail. Also former defense minister. -0-