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American-Armenian professional poker player, “King of Instagram” Dan Bilzerian has been hosted by the National Security Service officers of the Republic of Artsakh, Artsakh special presidential envoy, former director of the National Security Service Arshavir Gharamyan said on Facebook, Armenpress reports.
Gharamyan posted a photo and a video on Facebook.
Dan Bilzerian arrived in Artsakh on August 28.
NSS arrests head of Ararat province
YEREVAN, AUGUST 7, ARMENPRESS. As a result of the large-scale operative-investigative measures undertaken by Operational Subdivisions of the RA National Security Service in the past months, stable criminal groups were discovered and neutralized, including intermediaries, organizers, current and former officials of military commissariat and medical center staff, as bribe-takers recruiting or recapturing conscripts with compulsory military service from time to time; providing military service to temporary military service personnel, moving them to military units that are preferable to service, premature demobilization through various diagnoses. Armenpress was informed from the National Security Service press center.
On the basis of the prepared materials, the Investigative Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia initiated and investigated criminal cases, which were periodically informed by the public and called for abstaining from the military service in such ways.
Despite this circumstance and many warnings, those involved in this illegal process, which directly threaten the security of the country, are still trying to make money through illegal means.
The National Security Service, having consistently fought against such criminal acts, has revealed another case in July 2018 as a result of operative-investigative activities and investigative actions.
According to preliminary data obtained, the head of the Masis branch of the Ararat Marz Military Commissariat of Ararat Marz of the RA Ministry of Defense received about $ 7000 in support of the discharge of mandatory military service from 4 conscripts based on medical diagnostics during the first conscription in 2018, a part of which has passed through his acquaintance to the doctor-specialist of the medical center for desirable diagnosis, and the other part – the former employee of the Masis military commissariat,
It has also been found out that during his tenure in office, MG has organized two more recruiting bribes for 4,000 US dollars. In addition, he has taken $ 150-4000 from 7 other individuals under the pretext of regulating various issues related to military service, but he has swindled by fraudulently undertaking no action to fulfill his obligations.
A criminal case has been initiated at the Investigation Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia on the incident. The head of the Masis department of the military commissariat of Ararat region of the RA Ministry of Defense, former military prosecutor’s office and a doctor-specialist were arrested. According to the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, they have been charged with restraint.
The preliminary investigation is ongoing.
Notification. Suspected or accused of a alleged offense is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in the manner prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a court verdict entered into force.
YEREVAN, JUNE 4, Director of National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan has clarified why no one has been arrested after the exposure of tax evasion cases by major supermarket networks of Armenia. The NSS Director told the reporters at the parliament that they are not interested in arresting and imprisoning people. “We are more interested in returning the sums stolen from the state to the state budget”, ARMENPRESS reports Vanetsyan as saying.
Artur Vanetsyan assured that any official, incumbent of former that will appear in their view and if there will be enough grounds for bringing them to responsibility, they will stand responsible.
Vanetsyan said that it’s often said that this or that individual stands behind this or that case, but it’s rather difficult to prove it legally. “And the article of the criminal code says that in case of restoring the losses inflicted on the state the charges are dropped. This is not something we do arbitrarily, it’s not me to decide not to imprison. It is provided by the article of the criminal code. When someone returns the stolen money he is exempted from criminal responsibility”, the NSS Director said.
As part of anticorruption campaign the National Security Service of Armenia has exposed tax evasion mechanisms developed by the largest business entities of Armenia. The mechanism is based on the registration of hundreds of individual enterprises that are in fact engaged in false entrepreneurship.
“Alex Holding” LTD, being a accompany that pays value added tax, reached an agreement with the former leadership of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia at the end of 2016 to implement the realization of agricultural products bought from farmers in the supermarket chain “Yerevan city” under the name of different individual enterprises the annual turnover of which does not exceed 115 million AMD. This gave “Alex Holding” LTD an opportunity to pay only 2% turnover tax instead of 20% VAT and income tax.
The leadership of “Alex Holding” LTD registered 461 individual enterprises at the same notary office in the name of the employees of their company and the family members of the employees. Some of the enterprises were registered without the knowledge of the citizens, using the identification documents or their copies kept at “Alex Holding” LTD. When the turnover of the false individual enterprises reached the threshold of 115 million AMD, they were dissolved and new ones were registered.
Taking advantage of the opportunities granted illegally and arbitrarily by the former leadership of the SRC, “Alex Holding” LTD sold also many other types of goods in addition to the local agricultural products in the name of the mentioned 461 individual enterprises, again paying only turnover tax.
Preliminary calculations show that the total sales implemented in the name of the 461 individual enterprises has amounted over 40 billion AMD, for which only 2% turnover tax was paid, while in case of legal operation “Alex Holding” LTD should have paid 20% VAT and income tax.
In addition, there is reliable information that the former leadership of the SRC has granted another 11 major companies engaged in network trade with an opportunity to operate under the same tax evasion mechanism, which obviously created unfavorable and unequal competition condition for many other companies paying VAT.
Checks are carried out in the mentioned 11 companies as well.
SRC Chairman Davit Ananyan has announced that agreements with the former authorities have no force and urged the entrepreneurs to work according to the new rules and in the framework of the law. On June 1 the owners of major supermarkets of Armenia, including Yerevan City and SAS, sent an open letter to the Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan asking for a meeting to discuss the ways of solving the problem. They offered to develop legislative mechanisms for solving the problem.
YEREVAN, MAY 25, The National Security Service adjunct to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia has revealed a criminal scheme within the framework of its activities aimed at combating corruption and economic crimes through which a large Armenian company has maliciously avoided taxes, duties and other mandatory payments. National Security Service informed “Armenpress” that high level officials of the RA SRC had a direct connection with the formation and organization of the company.
Specifically:
The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has received information that in the United Kingdom, Scotland (according to preliminary data, in the United Kingdom, for the purpose of obtaining cargo and customs clearance businesses belonging to small and medium-sized businesses from 9 so-called “coca” firms and concentrating on one company in a monopoly position, offshore zone), registered by Norfolk Project LP LLC in June 2017, was founded by Norfolk Consulting LLC whose citizen Armen Harutyunyan was appointed general director. Further, RA SRC senior officials, representing the Director General of “Norfolk Consulting” LLC, told the managers of these “cognos” companies that collective goods transported by trucks from Turkey, China and the United Arab Emirates should be cleared by exclusively through Norfolk Consulting , they also determined that they would pay the company for each imported 1kg load, in the case of Turkey, $ 1.65 (including VAT, customs duty, customs duty) and 0.70 US $ 2.55 (including VAT, customs, customs) and USD 0.70 (for service) and USD 2.55 (including VAT, customs duties, customs) and US $ 0.45 money). It is noteworthy that for renovation, “Norfolk Consulting” LLC was provided with rental offices in the premises of the SRC special customs clearance customs clearance premises, obviously aiming at the businessmen to emphasize the special privileged status of the mentioned company. Cargo companies, in essence, had no other option, accepted the proposal of financially inefficient cooperation and began to carry out customs clearance of shipped goods exclusively through “Norfolk Consulting” LLC, paid the cash in cash without proper formulations.
Representatives of “Norfolk Consulting” LLC often did not declare and clear the imported goods with the right name and customs, which reduced the amount to be paid to the state, and created unequal competition conditions for the citizens who imported the same goods not through their company.
As a result of the preliminary preliminary analysis, it was calculated that from 1 August 2017 to 1 May 2018, Norfolk Consulting LLC received $ 37.6 million in cash through representatives of shipping companies, of which US $ 26.4 million was imported to Armenia customs clearance of goods, and $ 11.2 million for services rendered to economic entities. As a result of not fully reflecting the above-mentioned amounts in taxable documents, the company has paid less than $ 3.3 billion worth of approximately $ 7 million to the state budget. That is to say, the company’s incomes in the nine months of its operation may amount to about $ 7 million. The actual amount of damage to the state can be adjusted within the scope of the forensic expertise prescribed in the manner prescribed by the Company.
In connection with the incident, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 205 (Part 2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (“Particularly large taxes, duties or other mandatory payments”) and Article 308 (Part 2) abuse which negligently caused grave consequences “), with more than 10 searches carried out at the same time as a result of which about $ 500,000 was confiscated from Norfolk Consulting LLC and the company director’s office, fields, bank and customs documents important for the case. During the preliminary investigation, representatives of freight forwarding companies gave testimonies revealing the criminal scheme of the case.
General Director of “Norfolk Consulting” LLC Armen Unnanyan and other responsible three employees were detained in the RA Criminal Code
YEREVAN, MAY 10, ARMENPRESS. By the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia Armen Sargsyan Artur Vanesyan has been appointed the Director of the National Security Service.
As Armenpress was reported by the Department of Public Relations and Mass Media of the President’s Office, the Presidential Decree states: “Based on the Prime Minister’s proposal, pursuant to Article 1, Part 1, Article 133 of the Constitution and Article 4.1 (1) of the Law of the Republic of Armenia” On National Security Bodies “.
Artur VANETSYAN was appointed as the Director of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. “
YEREVAN, APRIL 21, ARMENPRESS. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia has released new details involving Zhirayr Sefilian and the gunmen known as the Daredevils of Sassoun – currently serving prison sentences. Sefilian is imprisoned for plotting armed assaults, while the Daredevils of Sassoun, an armed syndicate comprising several gunmen, were sentenced for the 2016 attack on a police station.
The NSS said that two men, linked with Sefilian and the group, have operated a criminal syndicate plotting to use improvised explosive devices in various locations of Armenia to attack government facilities, commit terror and illegally put forward certain demands from authorities.
Both men, as well as 4 other accomplices have been detained.
NSS said they’ve gathered intelligence reports that certain foreign intelligence agencies, organizations as well as individuals are spreading extremist ideologies, views of intolerance and violence in Armenia, causing factors which contribute to the rise of terror threat.
The national security service said they obtained intelligence reports that certain individuals, who have been placed on a watch-list previously, are plotting severe crimes.
The two men, affiliated with Sefilian and the Daredevils of Sassoun, plotted to use about 150 remotely controlled IEDs in various locations, namely in Freedom Square of Yerevan, Dalma Garden Mall, in transportation vehicles and under bridges and other roads, as well as near residential facilities, to terrorize the society, including by targeting government officials and law enforcement agencies.
The plotters had even tested their IEDs and attempted to recruit accomplices.
A criminal case was launched on April 21.
Agents have discovered multiple evidences, including detonators, explosive materials and other items as part of searches.
“Haykakan Zhamanak” managed to contact the US citizen R. K. wanted by the RA National Security Service. As mentioned earlier, this person is Robert Kurkian, who resides in the US state of California.
The information was confirmed by us in our conversation. The following is a conversation with her:
– Mr. Kourkyan, Facebook page with a fake name Martin Avagyan belongs to you.
– The answer to that question is: and how many pages have the NSS and the police, have you ever asked them?
– The National Security Service accuses you of preparing terrorist acts in Armenia. What would you say about this, if you tried to collect a criminal group in the territory of Armenia or beyond?
– I have never had a group and I do not have the idea that I liked the people and they were terrified by the authorities. I have expressed an idea, which, according to the circumstances, liked the Armenians around the globe, and from that standpoint, if you look, I can say that I have supporters. As always, the NSS is distorting. There is no national security, there is Serge Sargsyan and the Republican Party Security Service.
– In your opinion, what is the purpose of the National Security Service?
– To silence the people, punishing patriots and people devoted to their homeland.
– The National Security Service has announced a search for you , and now you are hiding.
– No, I’m talking to you now, I leave the impression of a hidden person.
– Have you ever had problems with the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia ? I mean again you have been in the center of their attention .
– No, I do not have it now, they have a problem with me.
– What problem do they have ?
– They say beaten, torturing people is their monopoly, and I say no.
– Mr. Kourkyan, what are you going to do now?
– I’m not going to do anything. I do not accept the accusations and consider it in the context of the freedom of speech and the intimidation and enslavement of the people.
– Mr. Kurkyan, you have one of your Facebook pages , two of them in your name, one by Martin Avagyan’s pseudonym . What is the reason?
– What is the importance of this?
– US law enforcement officers have come to your apartment and have contacted you.
– Yes, they have come here, have interrogated them and I have explained in detail how the people of Armenia today live in colonial and total dictatorship.
– That’s it. Then they left.
– So far, fortunately, people do not judge or arrest people in false and unfounded cases.
Kurkyan did not answer other questions. We have been able to contact him through Fezybak social network.
It should be reminded that the National Security Service distributed cigarettes, noting that as a result of the operative-investigative measures and investigative actions carried out by the RA National Security Service, it was found out that Armenian citizen, US citizen RC, in September 2017, has registered a personal page with fraudulent information by Martin Avagyan user on the social network through which he has published materials on the formation of a group called “Battleers for Justice”, tactics of the gang action, its members discipline, security, and privacy practices.
The National Security Service’s press release is here
Source: http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/127328
Armenia has prevented the illegal import of a particularly large amount of drugs from Turkey, the press service of the National Security Service reports.
According to preliminary data, Armenian citizen A. H. acquired on December 31, 2016 large amounts of methamphetamine and heroin in Turkey and transferred the substance via the Istanbul-Yerevan flight to Armenia.
The employees of the National Security Service caught the smuggler at Zvartnots international airport in Yerevan on Tuesday, January 3.
A criminal investigation into the case has been launched to identify possible accomplices.
The National Security Service announces that they arrested a group of people who has had criminal ties with the group members and supported them to commit the crimes. The arrest was made based on the procedural and intelligence data collected and developed within the frameworks of the case on seizure of the Police Patrol Regiment by an armed group.
In particular, on July 21, the police arrested V. G., who illegally was carried weapons , including a grenade, and attempted to reach the blocked area of Khorenatsy street. However, his criminal actions had been obstructed before he arrived to that destination.
In addition , on July 22, the police arrested M.A. , who tried to move gasoline and oil bottled explosives ( Molotov cocktail ) in plastic bags to the blocked area of Khorenatsi street and use on proper occasion .
The National Security Service has warned that other people who has an intent to have a complicity with the armed group are under the supervision of the competent state bodies. All legitimate and available precautionary measures will be applied to prevent their potential criminal acts.
In view of the foregoing, the National Security Agency strongly encourages citizens to display circumspection in places where people are gathered , and immediately leave the area and notify the appropriate law enforcement authorities in case they notice a strange behavior, or if they notice any suspicious objects , the statement said .
YEREVAN. – Azerbaijani and Turkish special services, with active involvement by the local community organizations, have made attempts at obstructing the holding of Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations in several foreign countries.
Chief of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia, Colonel General Gorik Hakobyan, stated the aforesaid at Friday’s special session devoted to the national security service officers’ day in Armenia.
“[But] these intentions were exposed and prevented on time,” Hakobyan added. “And second, during the passing year, Azerbaijani armed units tried several times to aggravate the situation on the line of contact (…), all of which have failed.
“The [Armenian] national security agencies (…) were able to perform their task by keeping our population away from the harmful activities of the adversary.”
In the NSS chief’s words, however, the Azerbaijani special services’ inimical aspirations and attempts of provocative actions against Armenia do not stop in several other directions.
Tatev Khachatryan: