US embassy cable - 04YEREVAN1089

UNCLAS YEREVAN 001089 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN-ESIDEREAS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, AM 
SUBJECT:  NO PROGRESS IN INVESTIGATION OF HIGH-PROFILE 
CASES OF VIOLENCE REPORTED 
 
 
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified, protect accordingly. 
 
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SUMMARY 
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2. (SBU) At his May 4 press conference Procurator 
General (PG) Aghvan Hovsepian admitted that they had as 
yet made no significant progress in the investigation 
of several high-profile cases of violence against 
journalists, a human rights activist, and a prominent 
opposition politician.  Hovsepian also announced the 
establishment of a special department to combat 
government corruption.  End summary. 
 
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NO PROGRESS IN HIGH-PROFILE INVESTIGATIONS 
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3. (SBU) PG Hovsepian's May 4 press conference was 
arranged to announce the establishment of a special 
anti-corruption division.  Journalists, however, showed 
more interest in the status of the investigations of 
several high-profile cases, including the March 5 
incident during an opposition rally when several well- 
muscled men attacked a group of journalists and smashed 
their cameras.  Journalists also demanded follow-up on 
the attacks on prominent human rights activist Mikael 
Danielian and opposition politician Ashot Manucharian. 
Both Danielian and Manucharian were hospitalized as a 
result of these attacks; Danielian suffered from 
concussion while Manucharian underwent maxillofacial 
surgery.  Hovsepian admitted there were no suspects or 
detainees for any of these cases despite the fact that 
journalists published photos of their assailants in 
almost every newspaper.  According to Hovsepian, "just 
a picture is not enough."  Also, Hovsepian complained 
about Danielian's "unwillingness to cooperate" with law 
enforcement and referred to him slightingly as a "grant 
eater." 
 
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NEW ANTI-CORRUPTION DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED 
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4. (U) Hovsepian also announced the establishment of a 
special department within the Procurator General's 
office to combat government corruption.  According to 
Hovsepian, the department's regulatory powers will be 
clarified over the next ten days, however, there will 
be no new employees hired.  The new department will 
work undercover to reveal and/or prevent corruption in 
the judicial, tax and customs agencies, as well as the 
procuracy. 
ORDWAY