Prosecutors oppose suspension of criminal proceedings against former President Kocharyan

Panorama, Armenia
April 2 2021

Prosecutors oppose the petition to stop the criminal proceedings against former President Robert Kocharyan initiated according to Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code. The respective petition had been filed by Kocharyan's defense team following the recent ruling of the Constitutional Court which declared the Article as unconstitutional and running counter to the Constitution of the Republic. 

Prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryna insisted the Judge should suspend the consideration of the case and apply to the Constitutional Court to determine the  compliance  of certain provisions set out in the RA Criminal Procedure Code with the Constitution. 

According to the prosecution, pre-trial measures against Yuri Khachaturov and Seyran Ohanyan, who are also charged according to Article 300.1, should be changed, while Kocharyan's and other defendant Armen Grigoryan's pre-trial measure  remain in place, considering ongoing corruption charges brought against them.

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