G. Kostanian: Any phenomenon should be based on facts

Armenian Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanian today addressed once again the subject of Armenian Ombudsman Karen Andreasian’s special report on the right to a fair trial.

“Any phenomenon should be based on facts, it should not be baseless, but rely on some facts. A criminal case is opened based on a fact, rather than a phenomenon. And facts shall be assessed, “ Gevorg Kostanian said during a briefing after the government session.

Commenting on the press reports, in which lawyers mention names of some judges, the prosecutor general said that all materials have been examined and analyzed.

“There has been no report about a fact of bribery or other corrupt practices. Lawyers just say that since the judge’s decision was unlawful, then either the prosecutor accepted a bribe or there was an order ‘from above’. Materials were prepared by the Special Investigation Service in connection with all these facts, while the majority of these decisions have not been appealed,” Kostanian said.

We would remind you that on the eve of Human Rights Day marked on December 10, the Armenian Ombudsman Office released a special report on corruption mechanisms in the court system. In particular, the report said that Armenia’s Cassation Court uses double standards when taking a decision to accept or reject a complaint. As for corruption mechanisms in the court system, according to the special report, surveys and studies showed that the amount of bribes in lower courts are smaller than in higher courts. The ombudsman’s report was based on interviews with over 120 lawyers, prosecutors, judges and experts, as well as on a study of cassational appeals.