Another Arrest in Alleged Coup Plot
The Associated Press reports that there has been another arrest in what the National Security Service (NSS) allege was a plot to overthrow the Government. The news follows the earlier arrest of Lebanese-Armenian Zhirayr Sefilyan and local associate Vardan Malkhasyan.
Vaan Aronian was arrested at his home in the village of Lusatar in western Armenia, where security officers found weapons and ammunition including guns, grenade launchers and a shoulder-fired missile launcher, the National Security Service said in a statement.
It said the detention was linked to a probe that led to the arrest earlier this month of Zhirair Sefilian, a Lebanese citizen who heads the Association of Armenian Volunteers, and another activist of the group, Vadan Malkhasian.
The two are accused of plotting a coup, making public demands for the government’s ouster, and possessing illegal weapons — charges they have denied. A court in mid-December ordered them to be held in jail for two months as the investigation continues.
Members of the Association of Armenian Volunteers have said the arrests were part of an attempt by the authorities to stifle dissent in the run-up to parliamentary elections next year.
Looks like the parliamentary elections are going to be nothing short of interesting this time round. How interesting we’re only beginning to see, I suspect. Anyway, RFE/RL also carries the story.
It is obvious that this was fabricated. Who would keep such stuff at home and especially now. But well, there are weapon loving guys out there who have good collections. I wonder what you would find in the mansion of Gago de Dod. Normally every freedom fighter would have kept their weapon. The NSS cant do much. If some heads are going to be crack than they are going to be cracked with a rocket launcher or a simple axe that doesn’t matter.
Comment by Haik — December 30, 2006 @ 12:19 am
Right, who would keep such stuff at home if they were planning a coup and the alleged ringleaders had recently been taken into custody by the NSS? Doesn’t take a genius to realize that if your fellow conspirators are under arrest and are being questioned, best to hide the rocket launcher.
Anyway, according to RFE/RL, Sefilyan’s people say this guy has nothing to do with them although they do admit he fought alongside him in Karabakh.
Regarding former soldiers from Karabakh, right. I know the family of one late fedayi who still keep his kalishnakov even though they’re not allowed to by law. Hope they don’t get raided next. Regardless, the rocket launcher seems a little over the top, but I don’t suppose an underground army is going to keep their munitions out in the open when the NSS is sniffing around.
Anyway, the timing is interesting i.e. Armenia has pretty much closed down for New Year and things won’t even start to get back to “normal” until 13 January. Of course, they could be guilty, but some concern has to be raised simply because it all seems a little too convenient. What the odds, huh? Being unable to so far prove Sefilyan and Malkhasyan were planning a coup d’etat and then finding a stockpile of weapons.
Actually, I suspect this is more for international comsumption so that that the CE doesn’t start looking at what might potentially be political prisoners. Internally, it only matters in so much that technically they need an excuse to detain political opponents and to frustrate their activities.
Don’t know, I reserve judgment, but consider that it’s up to the authorities to prove that this is not the persecution of political opponents in the run up to the parliamentary elections. I’m sorry, threatening to “crack heads if territory is returned to Azerbaijan” is not evidence of planning a coup d’etat or an armed uprising in May.
Even a stockpile of weapons isn’t evidence, and that’s assuming there really was one or that they weren’t just rusting souvenirs from the early 90s.
Comment by Onnik — December 30, 2006 @ 1:09 am
Comment by Onnik — December 31, 2006 @ 1:08 am