US embassy cable - 05YEREVAN2045

UNCLAS YEREVAN 002045 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
TBILISI FOR LEGATT 
FRANKFURT FOR DHS/BICE (JAY PINA) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KCRM, ASEC, CFED, CPAS, SOCI, GG, AM, FBI 
SUBJECT: ARMENIA: TRANSFER OF CUSTODY OF L.A. MURDER 
FUGITIVE TO U.S. AUTHORITIES 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified, please treat accordingly. 
 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (SBU) On November 21, Armenian authorities transferred 
fugitive suspect Akop Akopyan to U.S. custody.  Akopyan, a 
U.S. Permanent Resident but still an Armenian citizen, was 
the prime suspect in a September 2000 gangland murder in Los 
Angeles.  The location, apprehension and eventual transfer of 
custody was the result of extensive cooperation between the 
Armenian National Security Service (NSS), California law 
enforcement officers, LEGATT Tbilisi and post's own RSO and 
Consular offices.  The U.S. has no extradition treaty with 
Armenia.  Transfers of this sort are complicated and their 
success is a manifestation of our strong relationship with 
law enforcement here.  Given the strengthening ties between 
criminal groupings in the U.S. and Armenia, we suggest it may 
be time to negotiate a more formal legal arrangement with 
Armenia.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Post first learned of the Akopyan case during a 
November 2004 visit by California law enforcement authorities 
to Yerevan, Armenia.  Akopyan a.k.a. "Skooby," was a member 
of the Southern California based gang "Armenian Power." 
Akopyan was implicated in the brutal murder of Garnik 
Gadoyan, an Armenian Power gang member who was serving as a 
potential witness in a murder trial of another gangland 
slaying.  Akopyan fled to Armenia following the murder. 
 
3. (SBU) RSO pressed the Armenian authorities to search for 
Akopyan and on August 12, 2005, the Armenian authorities 
located and arrested him.  Following a series of diplomatic 
exchanges and meetings involving Emboffs, LEGATT and NSS 
officials, the Armenian government agreed to transfer custody 
of Akopyan to the U.S.  In order that the transfer of custody 
not violate Armenia's Constitution, Armenia's Prosecutor 
General denaturalized Akopyan on November 18 and on November 
19 the Armenian National Security Service (NSS) escorted 
Akopyan from Yerevan, Armenia, to Vienna, Austria.  Akopyan 
was subsequently transferred to Washington D.C. by an 
Austrian security officer and an NSS officer and was placed 
under FBI custody based on a Federal Arrest Warrant for 
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution.  Once in FBI custody, 
Akopyan was transferred to Los Angeles to stand trial. 
 
Comment: We Need a More Formal Mechanism 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4.  (SBU) This was a positive outcome.  Armenian officials 
recognized the importance the USG attached to this case and 
found a way to transfer a dangerous fugitive to our custody, 
even in the absence of an international legal mechanism. 
While Armenian authorities recognize our appreciation for 
their cooperation, they ask that we not publicize this 
transfer as it could open the GOAM to opposition criticism 
for what could easily be termed an extra-judicial transfer. 
Our contacts at the NSS have informed us that they will only 
consider requests for transfers similar to this one in the 
most serious cases, those involving either terrorism or 
murder charges.  In the absence of a more formal 
international agreement, Armenia's future cooperation will 
continue to be dependent on good will and strong 
relationships between law enforcement bodies.  Our thanks to 
LEGATT Tbilisi and LAPD for helping us make this happen. 
EVANS