We Do Not Accept The Charges Against Babloyan, We Find Them Groundless: Defense

“We do not accept the charges brought against Ara Babloyan, we find them groundless,” said Ara Babloyan's defense attorney Aram Vardevanyan to reporters near the Special Investigation Service.

According to him, the charges against Babloyan raise several issues from a legal standpoint, as the cornerstone is the legal interpretation. “Legal interpretation is a professional matter. You are aware that the position of the Speaker of the National Assembly is one of the highest political and representative positions, but it is not a professional position at all. I would also like to emphasize that Ara Babloyan's functional immunity as a parliament member has also not been taken into account here. As you know, members of the National Assembly in Armenia are endowed with functional immunity,” Vardevanyan said.

The lawyer spoke about the actions of the investigators, stating that he did not notice any obvious problems in that regard, and there is a friendly approach and propriety.

Vardevanyan also addressed another aspect. Reminding that MP Arman Babajanyan had submitted the report, he emphasized that it related to Article 95 of the Constitution, which suspends a parliament member's powers. “There was even an assertion that Ara Babloyan's decision allowed Hrayer Tovmasyan to continue serving as a parliament member. No charges have been brought in this regard, and one could reasonably argue from a legal and procedural standpoint that there is justification in this matter,” said Aram Vardevanyan.

It is noteworthy that MP Arman Babajanyan submitted a report to the Prosecutor General's Office, based on which a criminal case was launched in the Special Investigation Service regarding the usurpation of power. The MP claimed that Hrayer Tovmasyan did not submit a resignation from his parliamentary mandate and unlawfully retained the position of President of the Constitutional Court, employing criminal schemes. Within the framework of the criminal case being investigated by the Special Investigation Service, the former deputy head of the National Assembly staff, Arsen Babayan, has been charged, and former Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan has been involved as a suspect.