Most shameful criminal case in Armenia’s history: Kocharyan about his case

Armenia’s ex-president Robert Kocharyan’s advocate Aram Vardevanyan petitioned release of defendant from custody.

Speaking at the trial today he introduced the Constitutional Court’s ruling, saying that it clearly shows that Kocharyan’s arrest is groundless.

He stressed that keeping Kocharyan under arrest is violation of the Constitution.

Judge Anna Danibekyan asked whether Kocharyan joins the petition of his advocate, to which she received positive response. The ex-president also added that during the past year his rights were always violated.

“The impression is that they did not lose any opportunity for violation. The violations were so many that they are of systematic nature. It is a personalized. It is political persecution. It is being done against a person who was president of Karabakh and Armenia,” he said.

“My impression is that this is the most shameful criminal case in the history of Armenia. It will be in text-books, it will have good and bad heroes. I do not imagine who the bad character will be who writes another page in the history of this criminal case. But what this page will be depends on you,” Kocharyan said, addressing the judge.

Prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan defending the accusation in the court stated that the ruling of the Constitutional Court does not relate to this case as the retired president is not being ascribed deeds stemming from his status.

He added that the ruling of the CC does not suppose Kocharyan’s release and petitioned to reject the one submitted by the defense side.