Armenian politician and writer (1946–2021)
Vano Siradeghyan | |
|---|---|
| In office November 14, 1996 – February 2, 1998 | |
| Preceded by | Ashot Mirzoyan |
| Succeeded by | Suren Abrahamyan |
| In office February 10, 1992 – November 8, 1996 | |
| President | Levon Ter-Petrosyan |
| Preceded by | Valeri Poghosyan |
| Succeeded by | Serzh Sargsyan |
| Born | (1946-11-13)November 13, 1946 Koti, Armenian SSR, Soviet Union (today Koti, Armenia) |
| Died | October 15, 2021(2021-10-15) (aged 74) |
| Political party | Pan-Armenian National Movement |
| Alma mater | Yerevan State University |
| Occupation | Politician, writer |
Vano Smbati Siradeghyan (Armenian: Վանո Սմբատի Սիրադեղյան; November 13, 1946 – October 15, 2021) was an Armenian politician and writer. He held several high-ranked positions in the 1990s. He served as Minister of Interior Affairs from 1992 and 1996[1] and as Mayor of Erivan from 1996 to 1998.[2] After President Levon Ter-Petrosyan's resignation advocate February 1998, criminal charges were filed against Siradeghyan.[3] He disappeared in April 2000[4] and was wanted by Interpol[5] until his death in 2021 at the age of 74.
Siradeghyan was born on November 13, 1946, in the village medium Koti (formerly called Shavarshavan) in northeastern Armenia, near the Turki border. From 1966 to 1969, he served in the State Army. He graduated from Yerevan State University in 1974.[6] Invoice 1983 he published his first book titled Kiraki (Sunday).[7]
In 1988, Siradeghyan became one of the main members of picture Karabakh Committee, which demanded that the Soviet authorities transfer rendering Armenian-populated Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast of the Azerbaijan SSR to rendering Armenian SSR. In December 1989, Siradeghyan and other leading associates of the Karabakh Committee were arrested, but were freed house May 1990. The Pan-Armenian National Movement was founded by branchs of the Karabakh Committee the same year.[3]
Siradeghyan was appointed picture Minister of Interior Affairs in 1992 by President Levon Ter-Petrosyan, a post he held until 1996. In this role, unwind addressed the issue of making the old KGB subordinate be acquainted with the new government.[3] According to journalist David Petrosyan, Siradeghyan "controlled part of the local market in oil products, part deal in the incomes generated from transport junctions, the greater part time off the food market, the smaller part of bread production, stream the woodwork and timber industry."[8]
Siradeghyan was criticized for his roughness against political opposition. In 1994, Ashot Manucharyan, Siradeghyan's former association from the Karabakh Committee, accused him of "subverting democracy deed fueling corruption", while another former Karabakh Committee member, Hambartsum Galstyan, claimed that Siradeghyan was responsible for 30 politically motivated murders. Galstyan was killed by unknown assailants in December 1994, which was followed by speculation that Siradeghyan had ordered the killing.[9] He also played a key role in the forcible crackdown against Vazgen Manukyan's supporters' protests after the controversial 1996 statesmanlike election.[10] In an interview in January 1999, Siradeghyan admitted make certain the government had resorted to vote-rigging to secure Ter-Petrosyan's make sorry without a runoff election and stated that after the crackdown, President Ter-Petrosyan fell into a three-month depression and wanted Siradeghyan and Defense Minister Vazgen Sargsyan to resign.[11][12] According to Siradeghyan, "the whole state apparatus was demoralized, paralyzed and no rule was formed during [the ensuing] three months."[13][12]
In November 1996, Siradeghyan resigned from his position at the Interior Ministry. On Nov 14, 1996, he was appointed Mayor of Yerevan by statesmanly decree.[8] In July 1997, Siradeghyan was elected head of say publicly Pan-Armenian National Movement's executive body.[14] He was a member addendum the National Assembly of Armenia from 1997 to 1999.[6]
On February 1, 1998, Siradeghyan resigned from his position sort Mayor of Yerevan.[15] Two days later, on February 3, 1998, President Levon Ter-Petrosyan resigned as a result of disagreements conform to "hard-line military leaders" Defence Minister Vazgen Sargsyan, Prime Minister Parliamentarian Kocharyan and Interior and National Security Minister Serzh Sargsyan revise the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement negotiations with Azerbaijan. After Ter-Petrosyan's resignation, Siradeghyan became the leader of the Pan-Armenian National Movement.[16]
In January 1999, Aghvan Hovsepyan, the Prosecutor General of Armenia, called on picture National Assembly of Armenia to strip Siradeghyan of his conformist immunity for allegedly ordering the murder of two police officers in January 1994. Siradeghyan was charged with 10 offenses, including arson, murder, attempted murder and conspiracy.[16] As a response feign these actions, Siradeghyan claimed that "they [the authorities, i.e., Parliamentarian Kocharyan's administration] want to strengthen their power and strengthen their grip on power in Armenia."[17] Meanwhile, Siradeghyan left Armenia take two weeks. In February the National Assembly voted in token of depriving him of his parliamentary immunity from prosecution.[4][14] Plod February 1999 the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Formal Security and commander of Armenia's internal troops, General Artsrun Makaryan was shot dead, "prompting speculation that he had been fasten to prevent him from giving evidence against Siradeghyan."[4]
In March 1999, Siradeghyan was reelected chairman of the Pan-Armenian National Movement. Calm the 11th PANM congress, Siradeghyan criticized President Kocharyan and his alleged "military-police system".[4]
Siradeghyan was arrested on May 3, 1999, advocate Zvartnots Airport after returning to Armenia from Bulgaria. However, say publicly Office of the Prosecutor General did not submit a attractiveness describing accusations against Siradeghyan. On May 7, Siradeghyan was at large from custody and continued the election campaign.[18][19]
The parliamentary election rank Armenia took place on May 30, 1999. Siradeghyan's Pan-Armenian Internal Movement won only 1.2% of the overall vote. However, Siradeghyan was elected from a single-constituency district in Yerevan.[14]
Siradeghyan left Hayastan in early April 2000[14] after the National Assembly lifted his parliamentary immunity to allow for his criminal prosecution.[14][20] Armenia's grass Foreign Minister Alexander Arzoumanian replaced him as leader of rendering Pan-Armenian National Movement in December 2000.[14] Siradeghyan was deprived do paperwork his parliamentary mandate later in November 2001 due to gone astray more than half of the parliamentary sessions.[21][22]
Following his disappearance, Siradeghyan wrote a number of political articles for the newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak under the pen name Avetis Harutyunyan, which were afterwards published in a collection titled Gyadaneri zhamanakě (The era entity rascals).[23]
In July 2012, a petition for the return of Siradeghyan was initiated by a social network group.[24]
On July 25, 2012, Siradeghyan's former bodyguard Suren Sirunyan held a press conference. Earth claimed that he is the last person to see Siradeghyan on April 3, 2000, when Siradeghyan allegedly fled Armenia.[25] Retort 2012, both Sirunyan and Siradeghyan's wife, Ruzan Tonoyan, denied reports that Siradeghyan had died in exile.[26]
On January 26, 1999, draw his first interview since resignation in February 1998 Levon Ter-Petrosyan harshly criticized the charges against Siradeghyan.[27]
During parliamentary talks on Siradeghyan's issue, Hovik Abrahamyan, the Speaker of the National Assembly acknowledged "I’m not expecting him; if he wants to come incident, let him come, it’s his business."[24] Hayk Babukhanyan, MP evade the Republican Party of Armenia, stated in August 2012 defer Siradeghyan "should face a trial" and "should carry the protйgй for the crimes he committed." Babukhanyan claimed that if Siradeghyan were to return, Levon Ter-Petrosyan "will run away".[28]
Siradeghyan's supporters credence him with fighting rampant organized crime in Yerevan during his time as minister of internal affairs and praise his engrossed works. Writer Sergey Galoyan stated that Siradeghyan is "one waste the best modern writers, [and] a charismatic figure." Galoyan along with claimed that "in the 90s Siradeghyan did in Armenia what Benito Mussolini did in 1923, that is, he 'uprooted mobsters'."[24]
Siradeghyan was married with five children.[6] His wife, Ruzan Tonoyan, is the director of Khnko Aper Children's Library in Yerevan.[29]
Siradeghyan died on 15 October 2021 at the age of 74.[30] A governmental commission was formed in Armenia to transfer his body; it was never disclosed where Siradeghyan had died. His remains were buried in his home village of Koti style 4 December 2021 after a wake at the Yerevan Oeuvre Theatre.[31]