Keeping Robert Kocharyan in jail is dishonorable act: Aghvan Vardanyan

A task group has been created demanding change of preventive measure of Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan, former lawmaker, former member of the ARF-D party Aghvan Vardanyan said at a press conference today.

“A while ago a number of social, political, cultural figures came up with a joint statement in defense of Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan. They were urging the authorities to stay above personal interests, accept the incorrectness of own prejudices regarding March 1 case, stop the pressures on judicial system,” he said, stressing that they also were expressing hope that Kocharyan’s release will become a signal to public reconciliation.

Vardanyan said currently the statement is signed by 60,000 citizens.

“But the unpromising working style continues. Today one of the reasons of tension in our public life are the developments over March 1, the unlawful arrest of the second president. It is obvious that the charges have no relation to the revelations of the circumstances of death of ten people,” Vardanyan said.

He said that keeping the person having essential contribution to the strengthening of two Armenian states in jail is dishonorable act not stemming from the interests of the state, on the contrary, harming the state, shuttering the judicial system.

Vardanyan stressed that keeping Kocharyan in jail does no good to either the state or any citizen.

“The only way to get out of the existing situation is to change the preventive measure of the second president. The authorities do not do it now, forcing judges make illegal rulings,” he said.

Vardanyan said only one way remains and that is make the issue of preventive measure subject of public discussion. He said currently initiative group has been created working to release Kocharyan from custody.