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Does Varbedian Pose A Security Risk To The Republic Of
Armenia? |
While French citizen Alexandre Varbedian has
been prohibited entry into Armenia for the past five
years, he still hasn't been able to uncover the reasons
why. (See:
Alexandre Varbedian – “Blacklisted” for 5 Years). In
a letter sent to the Chief of the Passport and Visa
Department of the Armenian Police “Hetq” requested that
the reasons denying A. Varbedian the right to enter
Armenia be disclosed as well as the current status of
former Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan's suggestion that the
case be reviewed. What follows is the response of S.
Aghajanyan, the Department Deputy Chief, to our letter.
“ Since 2002, French citizen Alexandre Varbedian's
requests to receive residency status in Armenia, as well
as invitation letters from Armenia, have been refused
according to the specifications cited in Article 9 and
Paragraph 12 of Article 25 of the former legal statues
relating to ‘ The Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in
the Republic of Armenia ‘.
In accordance with the requirements of
Subsections 3 and 6 of Section 1, Article 8 of the law
‘Regarding Foreign Citizens', which went into effect on
February 4, 2007, a review of the case relating to the
granting of an entry visa to AS. Varbedian is
impossible.”
“Article 8 of the law ‘Regarding Foreign
Citizens' pertains to: The granting or refusal of entry
visas and visa extensions, to foreign citizens;
declaring entry visas to be invalid; and prohibiting
entry into the country. In compliance with Section 1, of
Article 8, foreign citizens are refused entry visa and
visa extensions; entry visas that have been granted are
considered invalid and entry into the Republic of
Armenia is prohibited, if the following take effect:
Subsection 3: There is a credible basis to
conclude that the individual in question is engaging in
such actions; is participating, organizing or is a
member in an organization whose aim is to:
• Inflict damage to the national
security of the Republic of Armenia; overthrow the
constitutional system or weaken the national defenses.
• To carry-out acts of terrorism
• The illegal cross-border
transportation of arms, weapons, explosives, radioactive
materials, drugs, hallucinogens, or
• To engage in human trafficking and/or
unauthorized border crossings
Subsection 6: The individual poses other
serious and fundamental threats to the national security
or public welfare of the Republic of Armenia
It must be noted that at the same time the
activities of the ‘Essence' national truth temple, which
Varbedian established and registered in Armenia, have
tapered off ever since 1990. In 2002 “A1+” wrote that
Varbedian wasn't being allowed to reside in Armenia
because he belonged to a sect.
“They never officially accused us of being sect
members. In 2002 when the issue of my residency status
wasn't transferred to the Ovir (Passport Department) a
deputy named Vahakn described the request as not being
‘appropriate'. This was the same official response given
to Ombudsman Larisa Alaverdyan in 2005. This entire sect
issue is the apex of idiotic slander (probably designed
to suit the parameters of the law). We only engaged in
the pursuit of learning. Sects like the Jehovah's
Witnesses and many others are registered by the
state...” Alexandre Varbedian angrily notes.
So, in the five years that A. Varbedian has been
prohibited from entering Armenia, he himself hasn't been
able to find out the reasons why, either true or false.
And even with the bits and pieces the officials include
in their responses to our inquiries on the matter, we
are still at a loss to understand why the Republic of
Armenia continues to close its borders to such a world
famous scientist and intellectual. We can only assume
that the key to solving this puzzle or as Varbedian puts
it, exposing the ‘head of the dog', lies with the
President of Armenia or his subordinates. |
Vahe Sarukhyan,
Translated by Hrant Gadarigian |
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