0038 order has no provision to be ashamed of: Robert Kocharyan speaks in court

Armenia’s President Robert Kocharyan came up with the statement at the Court of Appeal today at the hearing of examination of the petition on changing his prevention measure. The examination though did not end today and will continue February 4.

Attorney Hayk Alumyan said after the court hearing that Kocharyan’s speech lasted for 2 hours during which he presented the situation created after February 23, 2008.

“He particularly said that information was being received that works were being held in the army for them to join the protestors, for deputy minister of defense Manvel Grigoryan to join the protestors. In the created situation he gave the defense minister an order to ensure neutrality of the army,” Alumyan presented Kocharyan’s words. He said that Kocharyan stressed that he gave instructions what to do for the army not to interfere into the processes.

The ex defense minister Michael Harutyunyan is also a defendant and is wanted.

According to the attorney, the second president also referred to the 0038 order which is an evidence in the case.

“Mr Kocharyan said in the speech that after getting familiarized with the 0038 order he saw that there is nothing extraordinary in it. He once again stressed that the orders of defense ministers were not sent to any of the presidents for approval,” the attorney said.

Asked whether in such situation the blame falls on ex defense minister Michael Harutyunyan, Alumyan said, “The mentioned order does not include any provision for which Mr Harutyunyan can be charged for. You were all completely misinformed about this order. There is nothing in this order to be ashamed of. There is nothing bad in this order.”

In his words till now there is no impression that the investigative body, the SIS, is trying to find out the circumstances of 10 deaths.

Referring to the question about giving order to the army to shoot, the attorney mentioned the statement of the Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces Headquarters Artak Davtyan that he did not give order to the army to shoot.