Deputy finance minister’s statement offensive for lawyers: MP

The words used by deputy finance minister Arman Poghosyan were not successful and in some regard offensive for lawyers and their institute, MP, attorney Nikolay Baghdasaryan said, speaking to Aysor.am, referring to Poghosyan’s expression about “subsidizing criminals.”

During the discussion Arman Poghosyan stated that if the legal services be relieved of VAT or will pay low taxes all will get use of it, including the criminals. “Must the people subsidize the criminals?” he stated.

Chairman of the Bar Chamber Ara Zohrabyan said it is rather painful that a state official names a defendant a criminal. “It is a rather serious attitude and labeling,” he said.

Nikolay Baghdasaryan said the words selected by the deputy minister were unsuccessful. “His comparison that the attorneys are defending criminals was not correct,” the lawyer MP said.

As to whether the lawyers should respond to such like cases, Baghdasaryan said that such like statement was voiced by general Manvel Grigoryan as well but the chairman of the Bar Chamber did not respond to it properly.

“If at the moment a proper response was given it is good,” Baghdasaryan said.

As to what should the officials do after voicing such like statements, the MP said the superior of the official must make corresponding conclusions.