Yerevan court denies arrest petition filed against ex deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan

Yerevan court of general jurisdiction denied the petition filed by Special Investigation Service for arresting ex deputy PM Armen Gevorgyan.

“I am looking at everything with optimism,” Gevorgyan stated before the launch of the court session.

As to what optimism he sees in the grave charges brought against him, Gevorgyan said, “The charges are grave, but the most important thing is that I do not admit them.”

Gevorgyan is charged with four articles of the Criminal Code, one of them is obstruction of justice. This case involves former judge of Constitutional Court Valery Poghosyan who is recognized as a victim in the case. According to the materials of the case, Gevorgyan  pressured Poghosyan for making decision in favor of Armenia's second president Robert Kocharyan.

Poghosyan though denies the claims, saying no pressures were exercised on him. Preventive measure against Gevorgyan in this case was signature bond.

On December 11 it has been stated that additional charges are brought against him. Particularly, the latter is being charged with assistance to overthrow the constitutional order in the country on March 1, 2008, as well as for taking big amount of bribe and money laundering.

All the charges will be examined in the sidelines of March 1 criminal case.