The Court of Appeals, under the authority of Judge Mnatsakan Harutyunyan, decided to keep second President Robert Kocharyan’s deterrence method the same. He will remain in detainment.
On July 26, 2018, second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan was charged based on sufficient evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation by the Armenian Special Investigative Service on the criminal case on the events that took place in Yerevan from March 1, 2008 to March 2, 2008, under Article 300.1 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, for the fact that he overturned the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia by prior agreement with other persons. On July 28, Kocharyan has been remanded into custody for two months. The Court of Criminal Appeals of the Republic of Armenia decided that President Robert Kocharyan should not remain in detention, and Kocharyan was released on August 13, 2018. On December 7, 2018 Kocharyan was arrested again following another ruling by the Court of Appeals.
Representative of the General Prosecutor’s office Vahagn Muradyan told reporters that the court completely rejected Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers’ appeal. “Robert Kocharyan will remain in detainment.” He assured that there was no basis for Kocharyan to be released.
They did not yet receive the court’s decision. Only the conclusion is known.
Muradyan said that they found objections that Kocharyan will hide from investigation and will be an obstacle in the case. Regarding Kocharyan’s response, Muradyan said, “He could not give a response at the time.”
Hripsime Jebejyan
