Author of the article Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia Edik Baghdasaryan, editor-in chief of Hetq Online and chairman of the Investigative Journalists of Armenia, has received a number of e-mail messages containing threats and foul language through the Hetq Online mailbox. His article described the methods Gagik Tsarukyan employs to enlist new members in his political party Prosperous Armenia. The sender of the hate mail refers to Tsarukyan as "a King" and promises to "slaughter" all those who criticize Tsarukyan. The e-mailer gives his name as Aper Aboyan and his email address as [email protected].

Baghdasaryan s ubmitted a request to Gorik Hakobyan, head of the National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) to locate the author of these threats and to apply the penalties prescribed by law. After some deliberation, the NSS informed Baghdasaryan that the messages had been sent from Irvine, California, a suburb of Los Angeles, and that there had been no agreement signed between the USA and Armenian that would permit the NSS to handle the case. Baghdasaryan has asked the US Embassy in Armenia for their help in locating the author of the messages and is awaiting their reply. Gagik Tsarukyan, meanwhile, has not been questioned in the matter by law enforcement.

Haykakan Zhamanak, July 13 2006