Epress.am News from Armenia
VTB Bank (Armenia) responded to Epress.am's request related to funds being transferred out of civil society activist Vardges Gaspari's account at the bank:
"Under the law, without the customer's consent the bank has no right to take any action with his account, including extracting funds. At the same time, there are cases when the account holder's right to manage his financial assets is restricted based on the application of state bodies that ensure the enforcement of judicial and other acts. In such cases, the bank is obliged to make a deduction without the customer's consent."
Though Epress.am wrote to the bank in Armenian, VTB Bank (Armenia) replied in Russian, underling the cases where the bank has the right to make a deduction without the customer's consent; meanwhile, Epress.am asked whether the bank has the right to use a customer's accounts without informing him.
VTB Bank (Armenia) added that since any information about customer's accounts is considered confidential, the bank is prepared and, in fact, obliged to provide information about the transactions in person to Mr. Gaspari, upon presenting ID, or to his legally authorized representative.
Furthermore, the bank informed Epress.am that it responded to Vardges Gaspari's emails.