On July 3, correspondent of AraratNews.am and Board member of “Heritage” oppositional party Hrayr Manukian published an audio record of a conversation with a person who introduced himself as an agent of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia and tried to recruit him first “on good terms”, and then – by threatening him. According to the journalist, the conversation took place on June 30, in one of the cafes of Yerevan.
On July 8, Hrayr Manukian reported the crime to RA Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanian and to RA Human Rights Defender Karen Andreasian. “In June 2014 Vlad Hakobian, who introduced himself as an employee of RA NSS offered me -Hrayr Manukian – to cooperate with NSS”, reads the statement of the journalist. He also noted that in response to a refusal to cooperate, Vlad Hakobian threatened with “negative consequences” for his professional and political activities.
The threats in address of the journalist were condemned by representatives of political circles and civil society of the country.
