Former director of national security service says placing Robert Kocharyan in pre-trial custody is wrong
06.02.2020,
16:16
Former director of Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) Arthur Vanetsyan told a meeting with chief editors of some local dailies on February 5 that ex-president Robert Kocharyan should be released from pre-trial custody pending trial.
YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. Former director of Armenia's National Security Service (NSS) Arthur Vanetsyan told a meeting with chief editors of some local dailies on February 5 that ex-president Robert Kocharyan should be released from pre-trial custody pending trial.
Kocharyan’s case dates back to late February and early March 2008 following the disputed presidential election, when then prime minister Serzh Sargsyan was declared the winner, angering the opposition, that was led by the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan who set off 10 days of nonstop protests that led to a crackdown on March 1, in which 10 people were killed and more than 200 injured.
Kocharyan, as well as four other former officials in his administration—Armen Gevorgyan, General Yuri Khachaturov and former ministers of defense Seyran Ohanyan and Mikael Harutyunyan have been charged with usurping state power during the March 1, 2008 post-election protests.
"I would not call the case as 'Robert Kocharyan' case. It is about solving the March 1 case and the focus should be on solving the murder of ten people. The question is whether the investigation into this case is contributing to it? I think, it is not," Vanetsyan said.
He said placing Kocharyan in pre-trial custody was wrong because he never tried to hide from the investigation.
"I believe that the preventive measure against Kocharyan should be revised, which would also reduce tension in certain circles of the public and would facilitate a full investigation and disclosure of the case," Vanetsyan said. -0-
Kocharyan’s case dates back to late February and early March 2008 following the disputed presidential election, when then prime minister Serzh Sargsyan was declared the winner, angering the opposition, that was led by the first Armenian president Levon Ter-Petrosyan who set off 10 days of nonstop protests that led to a crackdown on March 1, in which 10 people were killed and more than 200 injured.
Kocharyan, as well as four other former officials in his administration—Armen Gevorgyan, General Yuri Khachaturov and former ministers of defense Seyran Ohanyan and Mikael Harutyunyan have been charged with usurping state power during the March 1, 2008 post-election protests.
"I would not call the case as 'Robert Kocharyan' case. It is about solving the March 1 case and the focus should be on solving the murder of ten people. The question is whether the investigation into this case is contributing to it? I think, it is not," Vanetsyan said.
He said placing Kocharyan in pre-trial custody was wrong because he never tried to hide from the investigation.
"I believe that the preventive measure against Kocharyan should be revised, which would also reduce tension in certain circles of the public and would facilitate a full investigation and disclosure of the case," Vanetsyan said. -0-
