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    Emil Lazarian
  • 6 years ago
    • Categories: 2020

Prosecutor General asks parliament to strip the head of opposition party of immunity

Panorama, Armenia

Armenia’s Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan has asked the National Assembly to strip  the opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity. The move aims to pave the way for criminal proceedings against Tsarukyan with immunity from prosecution and indict him.

The lifting of the immunity of Gagik Tsarukyan from the second biggest political fraction in parliament is sought over 2 criminal proceedings, including conducting unlicensed gambling activities and election falsification during the 2017 parliamentary elections, according to the press office of the Prosecutor’s General office.

To remind, Tsarukyan was summoned to the National Security Service (NSS) on Sunday and questioned there for eight hours after security forces searched his home earlier in the day. The criminal proceedings were launched against him after the opposition MP decried the government’s coronavirus handling and called for its resignation. PAP representatives and a large group of Tsarukyan’s supporters rallied outside the NSS headquarters on Sunday. Police detained some 225 backers of the lawmaker and also used violence against MPs. 

Tsarukyan and his supporters name the criminal proceedings politically motivated.

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