Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06YEREVAN1101
2006-08-11 11:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Yerevan
Cable title:
APPARENT REPRISAL: TAX POLICE INSPECT ANTI-TIP NGO
VZCZCXRO7976 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHYE #1101 2231149 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 111149Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY YEREVAN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3708 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 0043 RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 1097 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI 0053 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0493
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001101
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, GTIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KCRM KTIP HSTC AM
SUBJECT: APPARENT REPRISAL: TAX POLICE INSPECT ANTI-TIP NGO
REF: YEREVAN 1091
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L YEREVAN 001101
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, GTIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KCRM KTIP HSTC AM
SUBJECT: APPARENT REPRISAL: TAX POLICE INSPECT ANTI-TIP NGO
REF: YEREVAN 1091
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) An anti-trafficking NGO reported a surprise visit from
tax inspectors August 10, two days after the Ambassador
pushed the Armenian Prosecutor General (PG) Aghvan Hovsepyan
to investigate allegations of investigative corruption the
"Hope and Help" NGO had raised with the Embassy (reftel).
According to the NGO, the tax inspectors somewhat sheepishly
and awkwardly asked for details of the organization's
operations, and not for tax or financial records. The tax
inspectors told the NGO that they planned to begin inspecting
the organization's financial papers on August 14. The NGO's
employees told us they believed the inspection was a reprisal
for their role in raising allegations against PG office
investigators to the Embassy and to the NSS. (NOTE: Reftel
noted that several prostitutes accused PG investigators of
making them change their testimonies against an alleged
trafficker, and physically abusing one of them. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the Operational
Inspection Department that visited the NGO, told us State Tax
Service Head Felix Tsolakyan had ordered the inspections as a
catch-up measure. He said the inspections were routine, and
volunteered that the tax service had no hidden agenda.
3. (C) COMMENT: The timing of the inspection is suspicious.
It would have been very easy for PG Hovsepyan to call
Tsolakyan and ask him to turn up the heat on "Hope and Help."
SIPDIS
News of our call to the tax service will trickle up, making
it clear once more that the U.S. Embassy is interested in the
case.
EVANS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EUR/CARC, DRL, GTIP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PGOV KWMN KCRM KTIP HSTC AM
SUBJECT: APPARENT REPRISAL: TAX POLICE INSPECT ANTI-TIP NGO
REF: YEREVAN 1091
Classified By: Amb. John M. Evans for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) An anti-trafficking NGO reported a surprise visit from
tax inspectors August 10, two days after the Ambassador
pushed the Armenian Prosecutor General (PG) Aghvan Hovsepyan
to investigate allegations of investigative corruption the
"Hope and Help" NGO had raised with the Embassy (reftel).
According to the NGO, the tax inspectors somewhat sheepishly
and awkwardly asked for details of the organization's
operations, and not for tax or financial records. The tax
inspectors told the NGO that they planned to begin inspecting
the organization's financial papers on August 14. The NGO's
employees told us they believed the inspection was a reprisal
for their role in raising allegations against PG office
investigators to the Embassy and to the NSS. (NOTE: Reftel
noted that several prostitutes accused PG investigators of
making them change their testimonies against an alleged
trafficker, and physically abusing one of them. END NOTE.)
2. (C) Shahen Hovasapyan, the head of the Operational
Inspection Department that visited the NGO, told us State Tax
Service Head Felix Tsolakyan had ordered the inspections as a
catch-up measure. He said the inspections were routine, and
volunteered that the tax service had no hidden agenda.
3. (C) COMMENT: The timing of the inspection is suspicious.
It would have been very easy for PG Hovsepyan to call
Tsolakyan and ask him to turn up the heat on "Hope and Help."
SIPDIS
News of our call to the tax service will trickle up, making
it clear once more that the U.S. Embassy is interested in the
case.
EVANS