Month: March 2021

The opposition candidate for the post of interim prime of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan was interrogated at the General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee on Thursday. As the Committee said in a press release, the interrogation was held within the criminal case instituted against Manukyan for alleged public calls for seizing state power and overthrowing the constitutional order of the country by force. 

As the Committee said, the calls were made by the opposition leader at rallies on February 12 and February 20 at Liberty square in Yerevan. Signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against opposition leader Vazgen Manukyan  Preliminary investigation is ongoing, the source added. 

Note: Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

The candidate for PM's post from opposition Homeland Salvation Movement Vazgen Manukyan believes the charges pressed against him constitute a political persecution. "This is an ordinary example of political persecution, nothing serious," Manukyan told reporters, leaving the Investigative Committee where he was interrogated. Manukyan informed he had refused to answer any questions asked by Committee officials.

Asked what remarks made during the February 20 rally might be amounted for public calls for seizing power and overthrowing constitutional order of the country, Manukyan, said it might refer to his statements about Plan A and Plan B of the opposition future actions. 

"I was instantly called to the Investigative Committee," said Manukyan. 

To remind, Vazgen Manukyan has been charged with alleged public calls for seizing the state power, overthrowing of constitutional order by force, and  violent breach of territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia punishable by  Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. 

Signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against him. Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Armenia's former President Robert Kocharyan insists there are serious grounds to assume the defeat in the recent 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh was pre-planned by Armenian authorities. Kocharyan's remarks came during an interview with Russian media outlets held on Thursday in Yerevan.  

"Both during the war and especially after the military actions, seasonable suspicions arose concerning the actions of the authorities and the prime minister, personally," Kocharyan said, adding numerous questions about the war and its outcome remained unanswered. 

“Why on the third day of the war the mobilization, which implies the replenishment of the active armed forces, was stopped? Why didn’t the prime minister accept the Russian president’s proposal on October 19? Meanwhile, on the fourth day of the war, he already knew that the war would be lost. He had a written conclusion from the General Staff that the war that was being waged would definitely be lost. These are not just empty statements – this is a report on a crime that the prosecutor’s office and investigative bodies should deal with”, – Kocharyan named some of the unanswered questions. 

The former president also questioned the decision by Armenia's current leaders to remove number of experienced military commanders before the war. 

The Opposition Bright Armenia Party’s parliamentary faction head Edmon Marukyan says they have not reached any agreement with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on the conduct of snap polls at today’s meeting, the lawmaker told reporters at the government.

"We talked, we conducted some negotiations. In fact, Nikol Pashinyan does not connect the issue of the [army’s] General Staff with the early election process, but we do,” the MP said, adding the issue concerning the General Staff chief further deepened the political crisis in the country.

Marukyan attached importance to the other opposition faction Prosperous Armenia’s position on the issue to advance any process in the National Assembly.

“At the moment we do not have any agreement. I suppose a second meeting will be held with Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, because only our stance is not enough for the furtherance of any process or the dissolution of the parliament. Therefore, when the position of the PAP becomes known, I think there will be more negotiations. At this point we do not have an agreement on any matter," he said. 

The candidate of the opposition Homeland Salvation Movement for an interim prime minister, Vazgen Manukyan, has asked GM Levon Aronian to reconsider his decision to leave Armenia.

The Armenian chess star announced his decision to leave the country and switch to the U.S. on 26 February, accusing the authorities of turning away from chess in general and him personally.

In an appeal to Aronian on Thursday, Manukyan said he was deeply saddened to learn about the grandmaster’s decision.

“Armenia has always been proud of you; you have been our pride and a source of inspiration for thousands of teenagers and young people. Thanks to your efforts, Armenian chess has conquered new heights and achieved numerous victories for our country,” the opposition leader noted.

“You are right, the current authorities succeeded in dividing the friendly chess family and creating chaos in the field, just like in all the other sectors and the whole country. But believe me, the people will no longer allow the victories of our country and talented sons be blown away.

The current government will leave soon, and through joint efforts we will handle the chaos in every sphere, restore our dignity and victory, while the state will again support chess at the highest level, since this is one of our visiting cards in the world.

“I am asking you to find a way to reconsider your decision. I am also ready to meet with you and other leading chess players to discuss issues related not only to chess, but also to your invaluable contribution to the development of our country’s future,” Manukyan said. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov qualified Armenia's ex-President Robert Kocharyan as a friendly politician but refuted as absurd claims he could be coordinating his steps with Moscow, Sputnik reported. 

Earlier on Thursday, Kocharyan said he was ready to run for presidency again.

"Participants of Armenia's political process have no need to coordinate their decisions with Russian President [Vladimir Putin]. The wording is just absurd. Robert Sedrakovich [Kocharyan] is certainly a big friend of Russia. He is a strong supporter of the idea that Armenia needs to further develop and deepen cooperation with Russia. This person put much effort to develop his country, and we note with satisfaction that the overwhelming majority of Armenian politicians support further strengthening of relations with Russia," Peskov told reporters, asked whether Kocharyan had coordinated his statement with Putin.

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