Supporters of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan are staging a protest outside the building of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts.
They demand the court to immediately implement the September 3 ruling of the Constitutional Court to release the ex-president.
Speaking to reporters, lawyer Vahe Yeprikyan stated the highest court has declared unconstitutional Article 35 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which implies that the criminal prosecution and arrest as a measure of restraint against Kocharyan are ‘unacceptable’.
He stressed based on the European Convention on Human Rights, domestic law, as well as the case law of the Court of Cassation, judge Anna Danibekyan, who the case is assigned to, should immediately hold a meeting and consider the measure of restraint against Robert Kocharyan. “There is no doubt that the latter should be released,” he said.
The lawyer also added that the protest is peaceful, adding it is aimed at drawing the authorities’ attention to the issues raised by them.
Another Kocharyan supporter Gagik Baghdasaryan urged the court chairman to immediately make a decision and release the ex-president, instead of ‘waiting for instructions’ from the authorities.
“The taxpayers of Armenia pay you to implement justice within your powers,” he said.
The court hearing in Kocharyan’s trial is slated for 12 September.