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HAKOBYAN DEPRIVED OF IMMUNITY
[08:45 pm] 13 October, 2006

The Parliament agreed to the mediation of the RA Public Prosecutor
`to involve NA deputy Hakob Hakobyan in the case as accused’. 56
deputies voted for and 22 voted against. 84 deputies participated in
the secret vote. Six ballots were invalid.

Member of the calculating committee Aghasi Arshakyan announced that
there were violations during the voting as different deputies marked
the ballots differently. But head of the committee Gagik Meliqyan
announced that the information does not correspond to reality and the
voting took place according to the regulations.

By the way, Hakob Hakobyan himself voted for his being involved in the
case as accused.

Before voting the factions represented their positions about the
issue.

National Unity announced that they will not participate in the
voting. Leader of the United Labor party faction Gourgen Arsenyan and
secretary of «Justice» faction Grigor Haroutyunyan announced that
their deputies are free to vote as they want to. The Orinats Yerkir
and People’s Party were of the same opinion. The ARF Dashnaktsutyun
was for restricting the immunity of deputies, and the Republican party
was for realization of justice and «not patriotic speeches».

Leader of the Republican faction Galoust Sahakyan blamed the
opposition and reminded that Hakobyan is their friend and even if he
has committed a crime, he is still their friend; in the end he noted
that the Parliament does not have the right to hinder realization of
justice.

NA Speaker Tigran Torosyan added that the Parliament has no right to
deprive the deputy of his right to prove his innocence.

After the speeches the floor was given to Hakob Hakobyan. He informed
that he has really participated in the quarrel. «Yes, I did it and I
prevented bloodshed», he said and informed that thanks to him the
quarrel did not end with shooting and victims. Hakobyan informed that
he is not against investigation, but if they try to violate his
rights, he will defend himself. «I warn you, I’m not afraid of death».

The deputy also announced that he was elected in 1999 and in 1991-1999
he was a common citizen and asked why his affairs weren’t checked
then. He also showed the case against his friend where his name was
involved two, `Three courts have justified him’, he underlined.

Hakobyan claimed that 90% of the case is fabricated against him. He
claimed that the representatives of the Karate federation stopped the
supply of gas to his gas station and demanded money in order to
restart it. According to him, this was the reason why the quarrel
started. He informed the Public Prosecutor that 165 houses have been
searched illegally, 35 people have been arrested and there has been no
news about them for the last four days, but the criminal case has been
initiated only against four people. `Where are the others?’ the deputy
asked.

At the end of his speech Hakob Hakobyan informed that his rights have
been violated in the isolation cell: he had no telephone and no
advocate.