Alik Sargsyan: Former governor of Ararat blames me in all his  troubles and attempts to discredit me through mass media 

ArmInfo.The former governor of Ararat, Vardges Hovakimyan, accuses me in all his troubles and wants to completely discredit my name in the press, MP of the Armenian  parliament, former police chief Alik Sargsyan stated on July 25 at a  press conference.  

He noted that Vardges Hovakimyan considers that it  was at Sargsyan's request that he was dismissed from the post of  governor of the Ararat region. "Hovakimyan had problems with the  traffic police, which periodically stopped him or his son, and his  son got into various conflicts several times which ended in the  court, and in all of them Hovakimyan blamed me because I was Police  Chief at that time, "the MP said.  "Starting from November 1, 2011,  that is, from the day I resigned from the post of the Chief of  Police, I received letters with accusations from Hovakimyan, who  tried to get $ 60,000 from me by blackmail." Hovakimyan stated that  because of me he suffered losses and demanded to compensate them,  "Sargsyan said.

The MP noted that Hovakimyan claims that Sargsyan took money from him  for employment of one of the acquaintances of the former governor of  Ararat. "I do not even know who they are talking about, and who these  people are." "I've never employed anyone through connections,  moreover, I have never taken bribes from anyone," - Sargsyan said.  Moreover, according to the MP, Hovakimyan himself notes that he was a  mediator in bribery, which in itself is a criminal offense.

The former head of the police also said that Vardges Hovakimyan is  discrediting him in the press.  Moreover, according to the MP, the  former governor of Ararat came to the RPA office and, having met with  Serzh Sargsyan, once again tried to blacken him before the head of  the party. "After that, I realized that this situation has no end and  can not continue like this anymore." Hovakimyan stated that he had  nothing to lose and his only goal was to slander my name before  everyone. "I am very insulted by everything that is happening and I  will not forgive all this" , - said the MP. He noted that in  connection with this case he will sue today and will demand  compensation for the damage done to his reputation. "I do not need a  penny out of Hovakimyan's money, I only want him to publicly  apologize and refute the information that was previously spread about  me." If he compensates me for moral damage, I will allocate all the  money for charity, "Sargsyan said.

In conclusion, the MP noted that he was invited to the Investigation  Service for testimony as a victim.  "After all, I myself reported  about blackmail, as I could no longer tolerate this situation." I  think that Hovakimyan has health problems, I will demand forensic  medical examination, "the MP concluded.  To note,  the Investigative  Committee of Armenia initiated a criminal case on extortion and  blackmail, as well as receiving and giving bribes and aiding in  bribery. A deputy of the Parliament, former police chief Alik  Sargsyan, filed a statement that the former governor of Ararat is  trying to lure him of $ 60,000 by blackmail. In turn, the former  governor of Ararat Vardges Hovakimyan said that he once asked to  employ the son of his former employee to the police and gave Sargsyan  a bribe, but he did not employ this young man and did not return the  money. Since the materials on this case contain the signs of crimes  fixed in articlesfull 182, 311 and 312 of the Criminal Code, the main  department of the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case  and decided to transfer it to the Special Investigative Service.