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    Emil Lazarian
  • 6 years ago
    • Categories: 2018

Armenian Ex-President Kocharyan Describes Court’s Arrest Warrant as ‘Vendetta’ Against Him

Sputnik News Service
December 7, 2018 Friday 8:51 PM UTC
Armenian Ex-President Kocharyan Describes Court’s Arrest Warrant as ‘Vendetta’ Against Him
 
 
YEREVAN, December 7 (Sputnik) – Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan on Friday called the decision of Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeal to issue a warrant seeking his arrest as a campaign of “reprisal” against him.
 
Earlier in the day, Kocharyan's lawyer Aik Alumyan said that the court had ruled to arrest the ex-president over alleged attempts to overthrow Armenia's constitutional order by suppressing opposition protests on March 1-2, 2008.
 
“As you know, today the Court of Appeal has made a decision, as a result of which I will again find myself under arrest. This is a political decision made under gross pressure of the authorities … Personal reprisals, vendetta against me and my family members,” Kocharyan said in a statement, which was read out by the head of his office.
 
Kocharyan, who served as president from 1998 to 2008, was charged in July with an attempt to overthrow Armenia's constitutional order during 2008 protests that erupted following the presidential election.
 
The rallies led to clashes with police and army who violently dispersed protesters. Ten people were killed and around 200 were injured.
Emil Lazarian: “I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS