The Instruction to Intensify the Charges Against Gasparian is Absurd: Defense Attorney

The modification of the charges against former Chief of Police Vladimir Gasparian and the instruction to present him with a more severe charge of significant embezzlement is a legal 'bespredel'. This opinion was expressed in an interview with NEWS.am by the former police chief's attorney, Tigran Atanesyan.

"This is a violation of criminal law principles, as embezzlement or misappropriation can only be committed by individuals who have the entrusted right of use or possession of that property. While Vladimir Gasparian served as Chief of Police, the salary fund of the military police was not entrusted to him, meaning he did not have treasury accounts to manage. Therefore, to accuse a person of misusing something for which he has no authority is absurd," said the lawyer.

Atanesyan emphasized that both the previous accusations and the new ones to be launched at the prosecutor's instruction are unacceptable for Vladimir Gasparian.

It was reported today that the supervising prosecutor has been instructed to modify the charges against former Chief of Police Vladimir Gasparian and to present him with a more severe charge under Article 179 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (significant embezzlement).

It is noteworthy that on September 18, 2019, Vladimir Sergei Gasparian was charged under Part 2 of Article 375 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (abuse of power). The criminal case related to Gasparian was initiated back in 2018, but he was involved as a defendant only a year later. He does not accept the charges and refuses to give testimony at this stage of the investigation.

Additionally, it should be noted that there are ongoing criminal cases related to Vladimir Gasparian in the NSS and the SIS. Gasparian currently has a procedural status of a defendant only in the case being investigated by the Investigative Committee.