Criminal Prosecution Is Underway, But Individuals Are Traveling in Georgia, the Czech Republic, or Other Countries: Elinar Vardanyan

Member of the "Alternative Projects" group, Elinar Vardanyan, has written:

"With the expectation of clear answers, we regularly learn from the media that individuals against whom criminal prosecution is being carried out are roaming in Georgia, the Czech Republic, or other EU countries, or any other corner of the world. According to media reports and investigative authorities, measures have been selected against some of them, including the commitment not to leave. Yet, it is unclear how in one case there is no obstacle for them to leave the country, while in another instance, even with a court permit, exiting is prohibited for apparently artificial reasons. Now the question that truly interests many: on what legal grounds and justifications are individuals facing criminal cases leaving the country? Who decides that one can go while another cannot?

There is a necessity to publish the exit permits of these individuals. It is crucial to understand whether all of them stem from court decisions and whether they are properly documented in legal terms. Otherwise, an overtly arbitrary approach is at play. How is it that in one case, individuals with court permission are denied the opportunity to leave the country, and the explanations are obviously artificial, while in other cases, individuals with permits of unknown origin, possibly due to simple arrangements, travel worldwide and return to Armenia only for a new agreement?"