YEREVAN. – Vartan Oskanian, who is a defendant in the criminal case being examined at the Armenian National Security Service (NSS), on July 19 submitted a petition to the investigating authority and gave testimony in this connection.  

Prosperous Armenia Party MP, former FM, and The Civilitas Foundation Founder Vartan Oskanian confessed that he had made use of $250,795.26—from the amount which American benefactor, Foundation Board member John Huntsman had donated to the foundation for charitable purposes—for private purposes, considering this as his share in the deal, the NSS press center informs. At the same time, he expressed willingness to pay the resultant tax that is due.

The amount of tax which Oskanian had to pay was calculated at AMD 20,140,324 (approx. $48,510), and he paid this amount in full on Tuesday. In addition, and after the opening of the criminal case, Oskanian credited $1,086,826 to The Civilitas Foundation, which is the balance of the interest of the amount donated by Huntsman and its deposit.    

Considering that Oskanian has voluntarily paid the amount of the tax liabilities and given his consent, the NSS investigation authority decided to drop the criminal case against Vartan Oskanian.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am