Author: David Nargizian

YEREVAN (Azatutyun.am)—Armenia Constitutional Court on Wednesday declared unconstitutional a legal provision that has been used by law-enforcement authorities for arresting and prosecuting former President Robert Kocharian.

Kocharian’s lawyers had challenged the legality of two articles of the Armenian Code of Procedural Justice invoked by investigators accusing him of taking bribes and overthrowing the constitutional order shortly before the end of his decade-long rule in 2008.

The court ruled that one of those articles is unconstitutional because it does not take account of current and former senior Armenian officials’ immunity from prosecution guaranteed by the Armenian constitution. But it dismissed the defense lawyers’ objections to the other clause that spells out legal grounds for arresting criminal suspects.

The ruling was signed by six of the nine Constitutional Court judges, including the court chairman, Hrayr Tovmasyan. Two other judges wrote dissenting opinions that were not immediately made public.

The ninth judge, Vahe Grigoryan, was excluded from the consideration of Kocharian’s appeal because of having previously represented relatives of the eight protesters killed in the March 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan. Kocharian and three retired Armenian generals stand accused of illegally using the armed forces against opposition supporters who demanded the rerun of a disputed presidential election. They all deny the accusation.

Speaking to reporters, one of Kocharian’s lawyers, Aram Vartevanyan, seemed satisfied with the Constitutional Court verdict read out by Tovmasyan. Vartevanyan said the ruling means that Kocharian’s arrest constituted a “violation of his constitutional rights” and that the ex-president should therefore be released from jail.

Asked whether he believes his client must also be cleared of the coup charges, Vartevanyan said: “We will be able to answer this question only after familiarizing ourselves with the full text of the court’s decision.”

Armenian prosecutors and the Special Investigative Service (SIS), which indicted Kocharian in July 2018, did not immediately react to the court ruling.

In July, Pashinian accused Tovmasyan of cutting political deals with Kocharian’s successor, Serzh Sarkisian, to “privatize” Armenia’s highest court. Tovmasyan responded by warning the government against attempting to force him and his colleagues to resign.

Kocharian was set free five days after the start of his trial in May. A district court judge presiding over it, Davit Grigoryan, further angered government supporters with his decision to suspend the trial and ask the Constitutional Court to rule on the legality of the charges brought against the ex-president.

Kocharian was arrested again after Armenia’s Court of Appeals overturned Grigoryan’s decisions in late June. Law-enforcement authorities charged Grigoryan with forgery in the following weeks. The judge was suspended as a result.

The case was then assigned to another judge, Anna Danibekyan. She is due to resume Kocharian’s trial on September 12.

TIGRANAKERT, Artsakh (Panorama.am)—The excavation work in Tigranakert, Artsakh, lasted for 40 days this year, concluding in late August, the head of the archaeological expedition in Tigranakert, Hamlet Petrosyan, told Panorama.am. In his words, the excavation has been financed by Artsakh leadership. This year, some $37,800 was allocated to the project that involved around 30 workers, members of the expedition and covered some costs related to reconstruction, transportation and photography of the items.

As the head of the expedition explained, the works are carried out in three main locations. This year, the excavations covered the 66-foot-long part of the northern fence of the fortified region. The total height of the wall is about 7 feet long. Archaeologists hope to conclude the excavations of the whole fence in several years. The fence is of high interest, since its layout and structure is unique for the region.

“It seems to have been a reference structure and shows the scale of the initiatives of Tigran the Great, who gathered all famous architects from Asia Minor and Armenia to build a major city.”

Excavations of the second antique district continued this summer. The works in the first district are concluded. In Petrosian’s words, the districts were established next to the fortress during the 1st century BC, comprising separate walls and residential complexes.

“Several cultural layers have been discovered at the site built in the period of Tigran the Great at 1st century BC. Those are laid one on another with the old walls renovated and the new ones built. New tandoors were revealed,” noted Hamlet Petosyan.

In the archaeologist’s words, the findings uncovered by a team are mostly pottery – whole jars, pots and casseroles. “The richness of colorful pottery is striking which is phenomenal for the region. We have no monument in Caucasus that contained samples of so many colors and black tuned pottery. This proves Tigranakert had served as a regional hub that also spread modern trends.”

The excavation works in the third location are concentrated on the square of the early Christian period, where two churches have been discovered, the mausoleum, as well as remains of a Christian monument. The plans for this year was to expand the southern yard and the works are focused on layers dated in 12 to 13th centuries.

“Large complexes with plastered floors and tandoors are of particular important. Among numerous pottery there was a plate with a colored eagle depicted on it that demonstrated the richness of the city,” said the archaeologist

He added that, this year, they plan to work on top of Tsitsar Mountain, which is directly in front of Tigranakert. It contained a mausoleum with underground rooms, where remains of saints were found on the floors. An anthropologist from France has been invited to identify the gender, age and the chronology.

“Excavations works in Tigranakert discover a history of a major city that prospered until the13th century,” concluded Petrosyan.

LA CAÑADA, Calif.—The Haigazian University Alumni Association and Board of Trustees, with special guest University President, Rev. Dr. Paul A. Haidostian, will recognize four members of the University’s Board of Trustees, who are retiring after lifelong years of devotion and dedication to the University: Dr. Hrair Steven Aharonian, Louis Kurkjian, Herair Mouradian, and Dr. Vahe Nalbandian.

Being aware of the importance of such an institution of higher learning in the Middle East, these four gentlemen have generously given their time, talents, and resources over countless years. Haigazian has valiantly endured through wars, regional conflicts, and unimaginable setbacks, to remain the respected hallmark of education it is today.

Haigazian University was founded under the auspice of the Armenian Missionary Association of America in 1955 and is the only Armenian institution of higher learning outside of Armenia. It has been a beacon of education for Armenians in the Armenian diaspora—lately becoming an oasis for displaced Syrian-Armenian students—further straining the financial resources of the school. Alumni Event Co-Chairs, Katia Kermoyan and Raffi Kendirjian announce all proceeds from this event will go to the Haigazian University Scholarship fund.

This fund-raising event will be held on Sunday, November 3, at the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club, located at 5500 Godbey Drive, La Cañada, 91011. Cocktails and dinner will be served at 5 and 6 p.m., respectively. Tickets are $150. Sponsorships are encouraged.

For additional information on this Alumni event, please call Katia Kermoyan at (818) 281-0352 or send an email.