VTB Bank Armenia Transferred Money From Armenian Activist’s Account Without His Knowledge

Funds were transferred from civil society activist Vardges Gaspari's VTB Bank (Armenia) bank account on May 26 without his knowledge. Noticing the deficit of funds in his account a few days later, he sent an email to the bank management hoping for an explanation, but he received no reply. 

In conversation with Epress.am, Gaspari said he then sent a letter through registered mail to the bank, in which he wrote the following:

"26/05/2014 inter-bank transfer AMD 5000.00 AMD 5000.00 CR 73075.30 0.00 0.00 0.00 AMD 2690.00 DB

"21/05/2014 inter-bank transfer AMD 2000.00 AMD 2000.00 CR 2268.10 0.00 0.00 0.00 AMD 2000.00 DB

"Please provide me with a copy of the document that was the basis for and allowed VTB Bank to transfer money from my account to another account."

Gaspari received the following response from the bank:

"Dear Mr. Gaspari,

"In response to your question, we inform you that you can receive the appropriate information related to the question you raise by bringing your passport and visiting a VTB Bank–Armenia branch serving you. 

"If you have additional questions, you can call the bank's integrated information service at +374 (8000) 87-87."

Gaspari informed Epress.am that he doesn't know to whom the money was sent. He received transferred funds from different people within the scope of his "civic solidarity campaign".

Recall, the Armenian police have submitted a number of lawsuits against Vardges Gaspari, for one of which 35,000 AMD (about $85 USD) was confiscated from him. A police employee has valued a lawsuit currently examined in court at 1 million AMD. Gaspari's accounts were frozen upon the request of the Compulsory Enforcement Service of Judicial Orders. Gaspari believes that this way, the authorities wish to prevent his participation in protest demonstrations, and he expressed willingness to accept financial assistance from individuals, but not more than 1,000 AMD per person, after which a group of activists made an appeal for solidarity to help the activist. 

Epress.am contacted VTB Bank–Armenia's public relations department, the representative of which promised to respond to our written request by the end of the day.