PACE rapporteur concerned about lifting of the parliamentary immunity on controversial criminal charges of former Foreign Minister Oskanian
Strasbourg, 11.10.2012 – Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for the monitoring of Armenia, Axel Fischer (Germany EPP/CD), today expressed his concern about the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, on controversial criminal charges, by the National Assembly.
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“This is especially worrying in the light of persistent allegations that political motives have played a role in the charges that are levied against him,” emphasised Mr Fischer.
“If substantiated, these allegations would mean a step backwards from the positive trend with regard to political normalisation that we have witnessed over the last year and a half. I have therefore written to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking him to clarify the charges, as well as the basis on which the parliament agreed to lift Mr Oskanian’s immunity,” the rapporteur concluded.