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Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has terminated the criminal case against Armenia’s former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian.

NSS told Panorama.am that on July 19, 2013, Oskanian submitted an application and gave testimony, confessing that out of the charity money provided to Civilitas Foundation by Jon Huntsman, he used USD 250,795 for his own needs, considering it as his share in the deal. Also, Oskanian paid an income tax of 250,795 to the budget of Armenia.

In view of the fact that Oskanian confessed that the above mentioned sum was his share in the deal, that sum was not misappropriated and the income tax was paid to the budget, NSS made a decision to re-qualify the criminal case as a case concerning tax evasion in large amounts. In consideration of the fact that Oskanian voluntarily paid the tax, NSS made a decision to terminate the criminal case against him, NSS said.

Oskanian was charged by the National Security Service with misappropriating a $1.4 million donation that was made by U.S. philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr. to his Yerevan-based Civilitas Foundation in late 2010.