THE CHARGE WAS CHANGED
by Lusine Sahakyan and Yervand Varosyan

Aravot, Armenia
June 14 2008

On 27 February 2008, former Deputy Prosecutor-General Gagik Jhangiryan
was charged with alleged possession of an illegal weapon and use of
violence against policemen under Part of 1of Article 312 and Part of
1of Article 235 of the Armenian Criminal Code. A senior investigator
at the Armenian Special Investigative Service decided to change the
charge against Jhangiryan on 13 June 2008.

Under the decision, the charge on the illegal possession of a
weapon (Part of 1 of Article 235 of the Armenian Criminal Code) was
dropped. So, four months later the preliminary investigation agency
decided that the pistol seized from Jhangiryan on 23 February 2008 was
legal. In fact, all documents confirming the legality of the pistol
were submitted to the preliminary investigation agency on the first day
[of his arrest]. But under the same decision, Part 1of Article 300
of the Armenian Criminal Code (attempt to overthrow the government)
was added to the criminal case against Jhangiryan.

The decision says that Jhangiryan and [former] members of the Armenian
parliament, Khachatur Sukiasyan, Sasun Mikaelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan
and Hakob Hakobyan, had planned to seize power by force after the
former Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan’s failure in the 19
February presidential election.

[Passage omitted: the decision aims to damage Jhangiryan’s reputation]

Jhangiryan has described this decision as absurd and ridiculous. He
said that his activity had nothing to do with Article 300 of the
Armenian Criminal Code. This decision has once again proved that
Jhangiryan came under political persecution for a speech he made at
the rally on 22 February 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress