General Prosecution refrains to comment Constitutional Court’s Kocharyan decision for now

General Prosecution refrains to comment Constitutional Court’s Kocharyan decision for now

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17:21, 4 September, 2019

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The General Prosecution of Armenia will express its position over the Constitutional Court’s decision on ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s motion after it receives the complete decision, General Prosecution spokesperson Arevik Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS.

“We can speak about the possible consequences of the Constitutional Court’s decision only after having the complete decision. Therefore, we can’t say anything until then,” Khachatryan said.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia issued its verdict over ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s appeal regarding his arrest.

Robert Kocharyan, currently in pre-trial detention on charges of “overthrowing constitutional order” during the 2008 Yerevan unrest, requested the Constitutional Court to determine whether or not his arrest is constitutional, i.e. whether paragraph 2 of Article 135 and Article 35 of the Criminal Procedures Code are in conformity with the Constitution.

On September 4, the Constitutional Court delivered a verdict, partly approving Kocharyan’s motion.

The Constitutional Court ruled that Article 35 of the Criminal Procedures Code contradicts respective articles of the Constitution and is invalid in terms of not envisaging official immunity among the circumstances which exclude criminal prosecution.

The Constitutional Court, however, ruled that paragraph 2 of Article 135 is constitutional.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS