September 17, 2003 - 21:57 AMT
NATIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL PREVENTED ATTEMPT AT ARMENIAN DEFENSE MINISTER'S LIFE
Armenian National Security personnel prevented a murder with using a blasting assembly that was being arranged by Levon Abrahamian, earlier convicted. According to the Armenian NS press service, a criminal case due to the 35-305 article of the Armenian Criminal Code was instituted by the Investigation Administration of the Office of the Public Prosecutor September 15. Levon Abrahamian has been arrested. It should be noted that the article mentioned above provides for punishment for attempt at state official, political or public figure's life. As Hayots Ashkharh Armenian newspaper today's number reported, the criminal was planning to attempt Armenian defense minister Serge Sargsian's life. According to the newspaper, National Security System ex-member senior lieutenant Levon Abrahamian was convicted for kidnapping of an Iranian businessman and exacting a ransom for him amounting in $100 000 in 1998. Serge Sargsyan occupied the post of the defense and national security minister at that time and insisted on thorough investigation of the cases of system former employees and initiating criminal proceedings against them. The newspaper supposes the attempt at Serge Sargsian's life to be Abrahamian's personal revenge.