Motion Filed for Robert Kocharyan's Release on Bail

During a court session at the Shengavit residence of the General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan, attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan presented a motion for the release of Armenia's second president, Robert Kocharyan, on bail.

Khudoyan requested the court to consider that Kocharyan's property is under arrest when determining the amount of bail.

“No evidence has been presented to date that could raise even a doubt regarding Kocharyan's attempt to evade justice, obstruct the proceedings, or commit any other act,” Khudoyan stated.

On September 17, Judge Anna Danibekyan ruled to reject the defense's motion to lift the arrest and terminate the criminal prosecution against Robert Kocharyan. Robert Kocharyan will continue to remain in custody.

Kocharyan is accused of undermining Armenia's constitutional order and using his official position to facilitate actions beneficial to Silva Hambardzumyan, the sole participant and director of “TSSCI Armenia” LLC, notably for not obstructing the sale of the company’s 100 percent stake to a non-resident company in Armenia for the purpose of exploiting resources with special licenses granted in February and May 2008, for which he allegedly received a bribe of 3 million USD equivalent to 927 million AMD with the assistance of Samvel Mayrapetyan.

Others implicated in undermining the constitutional order include Seyran Ohanyan, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces in 2008; Yuri Khachaturov, Deputy Minister of Defense and Commander of the Yerevan garrison; and Armen Gevorgyan, Chief of Staff for the President and Secretary of the National Security Council. Furthermore, Armen Gevorgyan is also charged with receiving particularly large bribes and money laundering.