Belarus extradites former top manager of ArmenTel to Armenia
YEREVAN, March 2. / ARKA /. Vladimir Sachkov, a Russian citizen, who worked until recently as technical director of Belarusian mobile operator Velcom, was extradited by Belarus to Armenia where he is accused of committing a grand theft, CNews reported citing Sachkov’s lawyer Armen Baghdasaryan. Sachkov is being held now in the prison of Armenia’s National Security Service’s (NSS). Armenia’s Prosecutor's Office declined comments from Cnews.ru. Igor Romanenko, a senior official from Belarusian Prosecutor's Office said in a short statement that information about Sachkov’s extradition is secret and not subject to comments. Vladimir Sachkov was born in Belarus. Prior to being transformed to Armenia in 2009 he worked as technical director of the northwestern branch of Russian VimpelCom telecom (trading as Beeline). In Armenia he was appointed technical director of ArmenTel telecom (VimpelCom’s subsidiary). At that time ArmenTel’s CEO was Igor Klimko, who had also worked for Vimpelcom’s northwestern branch before moving to Armenia. In 2013 Klimko was given another post while Sachkov moved to Belarus. In 2014 Armenia’s National Security Service opened a criminal case against top managers of ArmenTel on charges of setting up a scheme for stealing ArmenTel’s revenue generated by international traffic. Armenian law-enforcers arrested former chief of ArmenTel’s security service Ashot Poghosyan, saying it wanted also Russian citizens involved in this case. After leaving Armenia Klimko was appointed head of Cambodian digital TV One, owned by the Russian GS Group. Now he is in Russia and, as a Russian citizen, he can not be extradited to Armenia due to absence of a corresponding bilateral agreement. Sachkov, who according to a friend, did not know he was wanted by Armenian law-enforcers, was detained in May 2014 in Belarus while trying to fly to Austria. In Armenia Sachkov is charged under several articles of the Criminal Code: setting up an illegal business, resulting in large scale damage committed by an organized group, abuse of authority , resulting in serious consequences, change of computer information, committed with the use of official position and computer sabotage. Armenian investigators say the former leadership of ArmenTel caused 1.745 billion drams (($3.64 million at current exchange rates) worth damages to the company, and another 855 million drams ($1.78 million) as unpaid taxes. Sachkov’s lawyer said his client pleaded not guilty and is preparing to testify. Vladimir Sachkov’s wife told CNews that the Prosecutor's Office of Belarus promised in writing that her husband would be provided with the right to defense. However, this did not happen. In addition, the Russian consulate, despite the appeals by Sachkov’s relatives, did not show any protection to him. Igor Klimko claimed that his lawyer Tigran Atanesyan is not allowed to get the details of the case. Klimko says he is convinced that Sachkov is innocent and was simply framed up. People in ArmenTel declined comments on the case.-0-
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18:22 03/02/2015