SENIOR DEFENSE OFFICIAL AND BISHOP IMPLICATED IN ARMENIAN CORRUPTION AFFAIR.

The Armenian Defense Ministry’s Budget Department chief, Colonel Mavrik Avetisian, has committed suicide on the eve of an overdue financial audit. He is said to have successfully stalled the audit for a long time. Following Avetisian’s suicide last week, investigators have determined that large sums were embezzled and have arrested Avetisian’s alleged accomplices, including the Bishop of the Armavir Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. (Azg, Noyan-Tapan, July 4 and 6)

ONE MORE GROUP OF ISLAMISTS SENTENCED IN TASHKENT FOR “TERRORISM.”