Azernews.Az

An Armenian opposition representative who told the press that an assassination was being masterminded against President Serzh Sarkisian has been arrested by the country`s National Security Service.
Sarkis Atspanian, a French citizen living in Armenia, in an interview with opposition newspapers described several scenarios of an alleged attempt on the president`s life, including a possible assassination on an airplane. Atspanian said he had received information about the purported plan to assassinate the head of state from a friend who works as an instructor for a military academy in a European country. He said that former Armenian President Robert Kocharian, the nationalist Dashnaktsutyun party, as well as forces that are opposed to making possible concessions to Azerbaijan regarding the Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict were among those interested in assassinating Sarkisian.
As soon as the reports made newspaper headlines, Armenian law-enforcement agencies opened a criminal case on charges of attempting to stage a statesman`s assassination. The charge was later replaced with one on spreading false information.
Aykakan Zhamanak, Armenia`s opposition daily, charged that Atspanian had long been targeted by the authorities due to his participation in mass protests in early March that followed the country`s February 19 presidential election and were put down with the use of force. Atspanian`s arrest had been previously planned, it said.