16 November 2018, 09:57
Decision to release ex-President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan cancelled
The Armenian Cassation Court has partially granted the petition of the Prosecutor General, who demanded to arrest Robert Kocharyan, the second President of Armenia, within the case dispersing demonstrators in 2008. The Court of Appeal (CoA) will again consider the issue of Kocharyan's arrest.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported on August 13, the CoA overturned Kocharyan's arrest, citing his immunity as a former president. On September 4, investigators took a recognizance not to leave Armenia from Robert Kocharyan.
He was arrested on July 27 on charges of overthrowing the country's constitutional order in connection with the crackdown on protest actions in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. Mass riots broke out in Yerevan on March 1, 2008, after the dispersal of an oppositional rally that disagreed with the victory of Serzh Sargsyan at the presidential election. 10 people were killed in clashes with the police, and more than 250 were injured.
According to the lawyer Hayk Alumyan, the Prosecutor General noted that Kocharyan, while staying at large, could impede the inquiry into the case. Alumyan did not rule out that Kocharyan's defence would appeal to the ECtHR.
His defence is also disputing the allegation that all the protesters were unarmed and the protest was entirely peaceful.
Kocharyan's advocates possess the video footage confirming that demonstrators used weapons against law enforcers, Mr Alumyan has stated.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 16, 2018 at 05:20 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Armine Martirosyan Source: CK correspondent
