Brothels, Syphilis, & Lady Hakob

Following on from the endorsement of Levon Ter-Petrossian’s candidacy by controversial MP Hakob (Lady) Hakobian, Lragir says that the MP might now be under investigation for his connection to a brothel in Yerevan, a client who caught syphilis, and tens of thousands of dollars in unpaid taxes. Interestingly, as recently as last month the pro-Ter-Petrossian Zhamanak Yerevan newspaper included Hakobian in its list of criminal figures in the country, and his clan has often been implicated in high profile shoot-outs in the capital.

Anyway, now Hakobyan has turned on his former protectors, they appear to be out for revenge although the General Prosecutor’s Office denies such accusations. Instead, the action is against a friend of Hagopian who reportedly runs the brothel and “signed an agreement with Hakobyan to occupy part of the factory for the motel, without any charge and time limit.”

In a news conference on February 12 Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan denied rumors on charges against Member of Parliament Hakob Hakobyan (Lady) who is the founder of a union of Yerkrapah volunteers and stated February 9 he supports Levon Ter-Petrosyan and took part in the rally.

However, although he denied that charges were brought against Hakob Hakobyan, Aghvan Hovsepyan told about a case which relates to Hakob Hakobyan but not directly. The point is that the Office of Prosecutor General states to have revealed a brothel, a motel located in the Anush clothes factory on one of the outskirts of Yerevan which is not registered anywhere and pays no taxes. […]

Aghvan Hovsepyan says charges were brought for pimping and tax avoidance, three have been arrested, investigation continues. The reporters tried to find out when charges had been brought, considering that the report came on December 9, whereas the case was revealed after Hakob Hakobyan has endorsed Levon Ter-Petrosyan. The Prosecutor General said the report on extortion took time to reveal the extorter, the circumstances, to interrogate the prostitutes, as well as other procedures. As to detention, Aghvan Hovsepyan says the three people were arrested on February 11.