19:13, 2 August 2018

After Moscow's harsh declarations, CSTO Secretary General permitted to leave Armenia

Yuri Khachaturov. Photo: © Sputnik / Asatur Yesayants

CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, charged in the case on the dispersal of protests in Yerevan, may leave Armenia, the spokesperson for the investigating authorities has reported today. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) reproached the Armenian authorities for persecuting political opponents.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan came to power, a criminal case was instituted on violent overthrow of the constitutional order in connection with the events in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. On July 27, investigators demanded that CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov should be arrested in the case. However, the court released him on bail. Meanwhile, Yuri Khachaturov pleaded not guilty.

On March 1-2, 2008, mass riots in Yerevan began after the dispersal of the opposition rally, which did not agree with the outcomes of the presidential election won by Serzh Sargsyan. Ten people were killed in skirmishes with the police.

CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov can leave Armenia, reports today Marina Ogandjanyan, the press secretary for the Special Investigation Service (SIS) of Armenia.

"The pre-trial restriction measure pronounced against Yuri Khachaturov does not provide for a ban on leaving the country. He can leave Armenia for a certain period of time," the "News-Armenia" quotes Marina Ogandjanyan as saying.

The events in Armenia contradict the statements voiced by the new leaders of the country concerning the refusal to pursue their political predecessors, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted on July 31.

"The things that are happening cannot but bother us, including with regard to the tasks of normal functioning of the organizations in the CIS space, in which Armenia participates. Over the past several days, we have repeatedly let the Armenian leaders know about our concerns. We hope the events will still find the positive way," Mr Lavrov emphasized.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on August 2, 2018 at 03:56 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.