Party Leader Accuses Former Members of Using Embezzled Funds from Nairit in Smear Campaign Against Him

Democratic Liberal Party of Armenia (HRAK) leader Harutyun Arakelyan doesn’t rule out the possibility that the monies “stolen” from Nairit Plant are being used in a smear campaign against him and his party. Arakelyan said this himself while meeting with reporters in the Armenian capital today. Recall, Arakelyan is accusing Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan of embezzling $31 million USD of state funds in the process of the sale of Nairit Plant in 2006 (when Tigran Sargsyan was head of the Central Bank).

As proof of the smear campaign, Arakelyan cited an event organized by Eduard Antinyan, who was recently dismissed from HRAK, and local daily Azg (“Nation”) editor Hakob Avetikyan, and presented the joint statement signed by leaders of various HRAK branches.

The statement notes that the HRAK branch leaders learned from the press on Dec. 1 that Antinyan and Avetikyan (who was dismissed from the Diaspora branch) together have organized a process of uniting political parties. The HRAK representatives officially state that no discussion on uniting with any party has taken place “since the HRAK leadership has received no offer to unite.”

The party leader noted that Antinyan registered his chairmanship with the Ministry of Justice on Mar. 18, 2011, forging their secretary’s signature. According to Arakelyan, Antinyan presented an excerpt of the assembly minutes and received authorization as chair when minutes weren’t even taken at the first meeting and thus, there couldn’t have been an extract from said minutes.

“Yesterday, those who were present at the banquet [organized by Antinyan] at the Armenia [Marriott] Hotel reminded me of something: there was a horrid smell of natural rubber coming from that banquet — you couldn’t even eat it [Note: Nairit Plant produces rubber; thus, Arakelyan is citing this as an example of the alleged embezzled funds from Nairit funding the smear campaign against him].

“For years, Avetikyan has had financial problems, has debts to printers, while Antinyan, who hasn’t been working anywhere for over 10 years, has come to the most expensive place — the Armenia Marriott Hotel — and is organizing a lavish event. The prime minister sends TV companies — you see here [referring to today’s press conference] there are no special TV companies —, he send TV companies and organizes an entertainment show and a banquet at the end,” he said.

Note, Harutyun Arakelyan and Eduard Antinyan are both fighting for the position of HRAK party leader in 2011. On Jan. 20, Arakelyan ceded the chairmanship to Antinyan, but at the August general assembly meeting Arakelyan was again voted as party chair, while Antinyan was dismissed from the party. The latter called the assembly meeting unlawful, saying that Arakelyan is a self-proclaimed chair.