Former defense minister Michael Harutyunyan
On July 3, 2018, a criminal case was initiated by the head of the investigative group on the criminal case on the events of March 1-2, 2008, in Yerevan, in accordance with the Article 1 of the Article 300.1 of the RA Criminal Code, the chief executive officer of the executive body, the minister of defense and other persons for violating the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia from February 23, 2008 till March 2, 2008 s SIS press service informed “Armenpress” about this.
The criminal case has been merged with the criminal case on the events of 1 and 2 March 2008.
On July 3, 2018, on the basis of sufficient evidence obtained by the preliminary investigation, a decision was made to convey the former Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, Colonel General Mikael Harutyunyan as part of Article 1 of Article 300.1 of the RA Criminal Code, has overthrowed the constitutional order with the prior consent of individuals.
Thus, it was found out that during the preparation and conduct of the election of the President of the Republic of Armenia held on February 19, 2008, such violations were filed, which, according to the majority of the society, violated the Article 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the basic principles that resulted in people being deprived of the opportunity to exercise their power through free elections.
Large-scale violations committed by non-governmental organizations, different human rights organizations and citizens have been attributed to the incumbent President Robert Kocharyan and incumbent Prime Minister, incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan, and the majority of the public has been fired since February 20, 2008 at Yerevan’s Liberty Square Massive public peaceful events, rallies, and round-the-clock rallies of thousands of citizens supporting the other presidential candidates were organized. handles.
Discontent in the wider public and the involvement of new people in peaceful assemblies have caused serious concern to the current authorities. After a series of police raids and calls to impede the rallies of seemingly unlawful assemblies, a number of high-ranking officials, including RA Minister of Defense Mikael Harutyunyan, carried out peaceful rallies aimed at overthrowing the constitutional order of the Republic of Armenia actions which have been expressed in fact by removing the provisions of Articles 1 to 5 of the Constitution and the provisions of Article 6, termination of their validity in the legal system.
Thus, RA Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan and other officials violated Article 8.2 of the RA Constitution, which states that “the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia ensure the security, defense and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, the inviolability of its borders. The Armed Forces maintain neutrality in political matters and are under civilian control “, Article 55 § 13 of the Constitution states that in case of an armed attack on the Republic, its immediate threat or war, the President may declare martial law and only after the declaration of a martial law can a decision be taken of the use of the armed forces.
Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan and other officials, in violation of the Constitution of Armenia, have confirmed the martial law in Armenia, the armed forces used political issues against citizens participating in peaceful demonstrations.
Particularly, on February 23, 2008, Armenian Defense Minister Mikael Harutyunyan signed a clandestine order No. 0038 on the execution of the tasks set by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, in which peaceful demonstrators were described as “political” destabilizing the situation. forces “, and the whole staff of the RA Armed Forces was moved to the barracks to ensure the” normal development of the country “. Officer groups were set up with tabular guns. By the decree, the Armed Forces have also been created with high mobility and able to operate effectively in complicated situations by armed units equipped with firearms. It was instructed to replenish these units with more trained, psychologically stable employees.
The Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia