"CASE OF SEVEN" DIVIDED INTO 6 DIFFERENT CASES
Noyan Tapan
Apr 1, 2009
YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Examining prosecutor party’s petition
of partially renouncing criminal prosecution and changing the brought
accusation, Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash communities’ first
instance court presided over by judge Mnatsakan Martirosian, on April
1, on the "case of the seven" made a decision to quash it by part 1,
Article 300, RA Criminal Code (seizing the state power) and to stop
the criminal prosecution due to the lack of corpus delicti. The court
taking into consideration the amendments made to the RA Criminal
Code also decided to withdraw the charge by part 3, Article 225
(mass disorders accompanied by murders) from defendants’ charge.
By court’s decision only the case on the part of former RA Foreign
Minister Alexander Arzumanian and Suren Sirunian from the "case of
the seven" will continue to be examined by M. Martirosian. The above
mentioned defendants are accused by part 1, Article 225, RA Criminal
Code, organizing mass disorders. The court gave the defence party a
week to get acquainted with the new charge and fixed the next court
sitting for April 8.
The materials on the part of RA NA deputy Myasnik Malkhasian’s charge
were separated from the "case of the seven." They will be examined
at the same court. M. Malkhasian is accused by part 1, Article 225,
RA Criminal Code, organizing mass disorders and by part 2, Article
38-316, assisting with use of violence to a power representative
dangerous for his life or health.
The cases on the part of RA NA deputy Hakob Hakobian, Grigor
Voskerchian, and Shant Haroutiunian accused by part 1, Article 225,
RA Criminal Code will be also examined at the same court.
The materials on the part of RA NA deputy Sasun Mikayelian were sent
to the Kotayk region first instance court to examine them according
to jursidiction. S. Mikayelian is accused by part 1, Article 225 and
part 1 and part 2, Article 235, RA Criminal Code (keeping illegal
arms, ammunition).
The restraint chosen to all of seven defendants, arrest, was kept
unchanged.
Hovik Arsenian, A. Arzumanian’s and M. Malkhasian’s lawyer, assessed
court’s decision to divide the case as illegal. "On what basis was
this division done? As the charge mentions that these people "coming
to a criminal agreement organized mass disorders," therefore the case
should have been examined in a united way. Sending the materials on the
part of Sasun Mikayelian to Kotayk region first instance court is also
unintelligible: did he commit a mass disorder there?," the lawyer said.
H. Arsenian stated that the defence party is going to appeal against
the decision after receiving it.