Armenia ex-Defense Minister arrested on embezzlement chargesSeptember 30, 2021 - 11:09 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Former Armenian Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has been arrested on suspicion of embezzlement of large sums of money, the National Security Service confirmed on Thursday, September 30. Tonoyan and weapons supplier Davit Galstyan are accused of stealing AMD 2,277,323,840 (over $4.6 million), as well as for "committing publicly dangerous acts," the NSS revealed. In addition, criminal charges have been brought against former and current high-ranking military officials for abuse of power and committing fraud with severe material consequences. Given the scale and importance of the case, the NSS promised to provide more details and updates about the course of the preliminary investigation and the final results. Tonoyan was appointed as Defense Minister following the "velvet revolution" of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in 2018. He stepped down almost immediately after the end of the 44-day war unleashed by Azerbaijan against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). Top stories David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. U.S. believes peace is “possible” in South Caucasus The United States continues to believe that peace is possible in the South Caucasus, Vedant Patel said. |