Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) Director Artur Vanetsyan has confirmed that he and Special Investigation Service (SIS) Chief Sasun Khachatryan are the ones speaking in the voice recording that was posted on the internet on Tuesday.

At a press conference after the posting of this recording, Vanetsyan said it is bizarre that a conversation between the NSS director and the SIS chief was wiretapped.

“That’s an alarming fact, in connection with which there will be a thorough investigation,” he added, in particular. “The conversation had taken place on the day of the court making the well-known ruling on [second President] Robert Kocharyan [in connection with the criminal case into what had occurred in capital city Yerevan, in March 2008].

“Taking into account the fact that the second President of the Republic of Armenia and CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov were standing trial, it was necessary to be 100 percent sure that there is no shortcoming and drawback on that matter. Such a discussion has taken place between me and Mr. Khachatryan, and it was a purely legal discussion.”

Vanetsyan explained that he had received an expert opinion in which there was a matter of clarification in connection with the grounds.

“We will continue the fight that we have begun, and nothing will obstruct us,” he added. “The money looted from Armenia will be returned, murderers will stand trial, and we will continue that process.”

Armenia PM comments on recording of national security and special investigation chiefs

Recording of phone conversation between Armenia security officials posted online