Armenian Parliament votes to allow criminal prosecution of two opposition MPs

YEREVAN, July 7. /ARKA/. The Civil Contract party, holding the majority of seats in the National Assembly of Armenia, voted today to allow initiation of criminal proceedings against Seyran Ohanyan, head of the opposition Hayastan (Armenia) alliance, and Artsvik Minasyan, secretary of the same alliance,. sought by the Prosecutor General.

The request was backed by fifty-nine members of the 107 parliament who took part in the secret ballot.

According to the Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, in declarations submitted by Ohanyan in different years, he concealed property belonging to him, in particular, a land plot located in the community of Drakhtik in Gegharkunik region, and a private house built on it without permission.

According to the motion against Minasyan, the latter abused his official powers as Minister of Nature Protection in 2016-2018.

According to the prosecution, Minasyan was aware of Seyran Ohanyan's use of land in the Sevan National Park without legal grounds and did not take the necessary measures to eliminate the violations.

Ohanyan, who was not present at the hearing, previously called the criminal proceedings against him a “show” organized by the ruling party.

Minasyan stated that he was accused of an act that is not incriminating from a legal point of view and does not correspond to reality.

"In particular, it is alleged that I said or knew that the buildings and structures were built by Seyran Ohanyan, which is a lie. I acted within the scope of my authority, did not deviate from it in any way, acted in the interests of the state and the environment, and was not guided by group interests," Minasyan said.-0-