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    Categories: 2021

Serzh Sargsyan’s lawyers ask court to lift measure of restraint imposed on him

Panorama, Armenia

The lawyers of Armenia’s former President Serzh Sargsyan petitioned judge Vahe Misakyan of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction to lift the signature bond imposed as a measure of restraint on their client at a court hearing involving Sargsyan and several others on Thursday. 

Prosecutor Arsen Martirosyan opposed the defense motion, claiming there are still grounds for the preventive measure against Serzh Sargsyan, and asked the court to reject the request.

In addition to Serzh Sargsyan, charges were also brought against former Armenian Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, head of a department of the ministry Gevork Harutyunyan and Flash company owner Barsegh Beglaryan. Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Galstyan died from coronavirus and the criminal proceedings against them were stopped.

Serzh Sargsyan has been charged with organizing an alleged embezzlement of government funds along with the other officials through misuse of official position.

The indictment said that Sargsyan used his official position in January and February 2013, when he was president, to steer a government fuel contract to a particular company that cost the state an additional 489 million drams (roughly $1 million) in subsidies.

At today’s hearing, Barsegh Beglaryan’s lawyer Nikolay Hakobyan also filed a motion to the court to lift the signature bond against his client.

According to the defense lawyer, Barsegh Beglaryan has shown proper behavior all this time and cannot interfere with the investigation and influence its course. The prosecutor opposed this request as well.

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