Vardevanyan Comments on Kocharian's Mandate Acquisition Issue

The parliament member is inviolable; one holding the status of a parliament member is inviolable. This was stated by Robert Kocharian's lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, during a briefing with journalists after a court session.

"A parliament member is inviolable before criminal prosecution; the continuation of criminal prosecution and its implementation, of course, intersects and clashes with the institution of inviolability," he said, adding that at this moment Robert Kocharian is a candidate for election as a parliament member, and he enjoys almost the same protective regime as an elected parliament member.

When asked whether Robert Kocharian will accept the parliamentary mandate, Aram Vardevanyan replied, "Please keep that question; we will gladly answer it at the end of July."