US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN524

UNCLAS YEREVAN 000524 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/CACEN, EUR/ACE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, ASEC, AM 
SUBJECT: EXPLOSIVE DEVICE DESTROYS VEHICLE OF TOP GOAM 
CUSTOMS OFFICIAL 
 
1. (U) Local press reported March 24 that an explosive 
device went off in front of the Armenian State Customs 
committee building at 10:00 a.m. local time, damaging the 
official vehicle of the Committee Chairman Armen Avetisyan. 
Avetisyan had already left the car and had entered the 
building by the time of the explosion.  The blast injured 
his driver and assistant.  According to the local and 
Russian media (who picked up the story quickly), an unknown 
device was placed in the hollow of a tree near the building 
when it detonated.  The blast did not cause major damage. 
 
2. (U) In preliminary statements, representatives of the 
Customs Committee's press service commented that the 
incident could be related to what they characterized as the 
State Customs Committee's "active fight against the shadow 
economy" and a recently "tightened customs regime."  Press 
sources reported that the Prosecutor's Office has already 
opened its investigation.  According to Armenia's Criminal 
Code, acts aimed at "assassination of a state, political of 
public figure with a purpose to terminate the activity of 
the latter" carry a penalty of 10-15 years or life. 
 
3. (SBU) Avetisyan is an influential figure in Armenian 
society and sits on the U.S.-Armenia Task Force (USATF).  He 
has been the object of criticism by local journalists who 
ran pictures of his "official" BMW 745 during a press 
campaign last summer alleging abuse of power and conspicuous 
consumption on the part of GOAM officials.  A January 
announcement by President Robert Kocharian of a new push to 
tighten customs regimes in Armenia sparked speculation that 
Avetisyan may be on the outs with some "business" groups. 
EVANS