Former chief investigator of March 1, 2008 case describes accusation and search declared for him illegal: Aysor.am

Former head of the investigative group set up for investigation of March 1, 2018 events Vahagn Harutyunyan does not accept the accusation and considers the decision to declare a search for him illegal.

Speaking to Aysor.am correspondent on phone, Harutyunyan said that he is currently receiving treatment in Moscow and added that his whereabouts is known to investigative body, thus no search may be declared for him.

“I do not only rule out the accusation, but I state that it is an illegality just like the declared search,” Harutyunyan said.

He claimed that not accepting the accusation, he will be successive in subjecting all those connected with the illegal activities against him to responsibility.

As to about the possibility of falsification of evidences by him, Harutyunyan said, “Of course it is impossible, it did not happen and could not have happened. I do not know how to call it,” he stressed, adding that he is being persecuted.

“Search is being declared if the whereabouts of a person are not known and he is hiding from the investigative body. You should not be an attorney to understand it. As to me, I have left the country in July. After resignation I departed abroad then arrived in Russia where I stayed to solve my health issues which are rather serious by the way. On September 11 a notification was sent to my Yerevan apartment and my representative attorney provided special clarification to the investigator that I cannot come to the investigative body as I am in Moscow for treatment and I am ready to provide information on my place of residence, contact numbers and information on my treatment procedure. No response has been received after it from the Special Investigation Service,” Harutyunyan said, adding that another notification was sent on October 30 with a demand to visit the investigative body on the same day for interrogation, which he said, was already illegal.

Harutyunyan said that all this time he was contacting the investigative body and talked with the investigators who submitted notifications, provided information on his place of residence in Msocow, phone number.

“During that period neither of the investigators hinted about the criminal case to be filed against me or a decision to declare a search,” he said, adding that as of the moment he cannot comment on the charges and may speak about them only after getting familiarized with them.