Armenian MPs ask to release Robert Kocharyan

41 MPs signed a petition to change the pre-trial restriction measure to Robert Kocharyan, the second president of Armenia, arrested in the case of overthrowing the constitutional order. The court can take into account the MPs' guarantee, advocates believe.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 26, the second Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was charged with overthrowing the constitutional order in connection with the dispersal of protest actions in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. In the evening on July 27, the court arrested Robert Kocharyan.

The Armenian Parliament began collecting signatures in defence of Robert Kocharyan, a staff member of the second president's office told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. By 4:30 p.m. Moscow time on August 1, 41 MPs had vouched for Robert Kocharyan, and MPs demanded to change the pre-trial restriction measure to him, the source said.

MPs from different factions, as well as Parliament Speaker Ara Babloyan, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), joined the collection of signatures, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was informed by Victor Sogomonyan, the head of the second president's office. The collection of signatures continues, he added.

"Theoretically, the MPs' guarantee can play a role at the trial, when the court considers a motion for a change in the pre-trial restriction measure to the person," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Yervand Varosyan, a member of the Chamber of Advocates.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 2, 2018 at 00:09 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.