Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan’s reaction to the statement of two NGO’s withdrawal from the Review Commission on death-end criminal cases at RA Armed Forces
At the request of “Aravot”, commenting on the joint statement of two NGO’s withdrawal from the Review Commission on death-end criminal cases at RA Armed Forces, the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor office and the “Journalists for Human Rights” NGO, the Military Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan said,- “My initiative for the establishment of the Commission in participation of NGOs on investigating the death end and murdering cases is aimed at bringing the forces together and dispel the available doubts towards of investigation of cases of public importance, and, if possible, to reveal these affairs once again referring to factual circumstances of the cases in the atmosphere of mutual trust.
We are guided by the principle that we are not infallible, and any legal remedy directed to disclosure of affairs and increasing public confidence is justified. The first sessions of the Commission were giving hope that we will be able to overcome the initial suspicion and to be helpful in solving problems.
The statement of two NGOs to terminate their participation in the activities of the Commission in these circumstances is at least strange. The withdrawal from the Commission is reasoned by a fact that at this phase has nothing to do with the military Prosecutor’s Office. The decision to terminate the prosecution’s case against Khachatryan’s criminal case reviewed by RA Defense Criminal Investigative Service to this point has not become a subject for discussion at the Military Prosecutor’s Office. Moreover, the procedures on verification of its legality have not yet been completed, and the military prosecutor’s office has not given any official assessment to the above-mentioned decision. Therefore, the charges to the military prosecutor’s office and the statements on withdrawal from the Commission leave the impression that they just tried to obscure or make the activities of the Commission meaningless.
Participation in the activities of the Commission is important from the perspective of readiness to execute the hopes of the relatives of the victims and actual concernment with respect to cases with death-end in the Armed Forces, and has no entreaty with fictional or other real considerations. I am sincerely sorry for that statement, and ensure that despite everything, the Commission will continue its work.”