CRIMINAL CASE TOWARDS ALEXANDER ARZUMANIAN IS ORDERED, FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER’S LAWYER STATES

Noyan Tapan
May 17 2007

YEREVAN, MAY 17, NOYAN TAPAN. "The case instituted towards initiator of
Movement of Civil Disobedience, former RA Foreign Minister Alexander
Arzumanian is ordered, prosecution towards him indeed does not
proceed from the requirements of the current legislation," lawyer
Hovik Arsenian stated at the May 17 press conference.

An accusation was brought to A. Arzumanian by the signs of Article 190,
RA Criminal Code – misappropriation of revenues received by illegal
way. However, in lawyer’s words, as the money has been received from
Russia, this issue relates to financial and economic stability of
Russia. "It is unintelligible why suddenly in Armenia they treated
this issue with such pain and a criminal case was instituted here,"
H. Arsenian said.

Besides, in lawyer’s words, for a person’s being called for criminal
liability by the above mentioned article, he was to know in advance
that the received money was got by obviously criminal way, and knowing
all this, he was to take steps in the direction of legalizing this
money. However, as A. Arzumanian’s lawyer asserted, there is no proof
of the kind in the criminal case.

H. Arsenian said that he has applied to the Appeal Court appealing
against the decision of first instance court to choose arrest as
a preventive punishment to A. Arzumanian. He also said that the
investigation group’s actions towards the opposition figure will
depend on the post-electoral processes.

A. Arzumanian’s wife, Melissa Brown, was also present at the press
conference. In her words, all this has a political implication. She
also said that her husband is in a normal condition and in high
spirits.