ARMENIAN OMBUDSMAN CONCERNED ABOUT MPS’ ARREST

Mediamax
June 20 2008
Armenia

Yerevan, 20 June: Armenian Ombudsman Armen Harutyunyan voiced concern
today regarding the "lack of legal grounds" for the detention of
three Armenian MPs, who are accused of organizing mass disorders in
Yerevan on 1-2 March.

The ombudsman said that the co-rapporteur of the Monitoring Committee
of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe, John Prescott,
took an interest in the issue of the extension of detention of MPs
Sasun Mikaelyan, Hakob Hakobyan and Myasnik Malkhasyan during his
latest visit to Armenia.

Harutyunyan said he is ready to defend the rights of the defendants,
with regard to whom no investigation is being carried out. He said
the applications of the Prosecutor-General’s Office to extend the
detention of the MPs show lack of substantial evidence necessary to
send the cases to court.

The MPs’ lawyers said today that their clients do not plead guilty
and refuse to give testimonies.

While commenting on the progress of the investigation into the 1-2
March events, Harutyunyan expressed surprise at the decision of the
Prosecutor-General’s Office not to open criminal cases into the death
of the 10 people [killed in the March clashes between the police
and opposition protesters]. He said many questions addressed to the
investigation bodies remain unanswered. "This witnessed to the lack
of a reasonable approach and unwillingness to perceive constructive
criticism," the ombudsman said.