“They confuse ordinary citizen’s opinion to the opinion of an individual considered to be the head of the state or occupying the position of the top leader”, so was expressed by the Head of HCA Vanadzor office, Artur Sakunts, in the conversation with Aravot.am, referring to the assurances of Attorney General Gevorg Kostanyan and Chairman of the Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan that Serzh Sargsyan has not violated the presumption of innocence pertaining to the case of Shant Harutyunyan and his friends. Note that during the meeting with Columbia University students in the United States, Serzh Sargsyan had announced that Shant Harutyunyan and his friends had committed a crime. This statement was followed by the verdict on Shant Harutyunyan and his friends: imprisonment.
A number of human rights activists and lawyers claimed that Serzh Sargsyan has violated the presumption of innocence. However, the General Prosecutor Gevorg Kostanyan and Chairman of the Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumyan persistently justified Serzh Sargsyan. In particular, Arman Mkrtumyan announced that Serzh Sargsyan had not violated the presumption of innocence, but has expressed a spontaneous opinion at the meeting with Columbia University students, saying that Shant Harutyunyan had committed a crime. Artur Sakunts, in an interview with us, said on this, “Ordinary citizens’ opinions may have no influence, whereas the opinion, approaches and assessments made by the head of the state may have an impact, especially in Armenia, where the judiciary power and law enforcement system are tools”. Artur Sakunts “considers them very miserable attempts to substantiate or save Serzh Sargsyan’s face.”
Mr. Sakunts continued, “This face, which we know, is constantly showing his true face in his public speeches with more sincerity and impromptu rather than by beforehand prepared speeches. Definitely, Serzh Sargsyan had decided at his own what kind of sentence he is going to issue at the court.” According to Artur Sakunts, it’s not an opinion, but a statement. “He made it clear that they are criminals and have committed a crime. This is not an opinion, this is already a convinced posture and claim. He does not say that there are some data, he asserts it.”
To our question that a war veteran was arrested at the October 24 rally of the parliamentary trio, about which the latter keeps silent, as well as there was no word about the political prisoners from the platform, Artur Sakunts responded, “The posture of the parliamentary trio and other political forces was displayed by the attitude towards Shant and his friends. Strangely, the forces that had political prisoners, both ARF and other trio member parties, except for Gagik Tsarukyan, seems like all of them equally do not want to offend Gagik Tsarukyan, not to make his appear in an uncomfortable situation, therefore, they are reluctant to express their position. Otherwise, questions will arise that the political prisoners or political persecution were once implemented under the government, in which PAP was a member.”
Read also
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
