The NSS Has Interrogated the Judge Who Released Robert Kocharyan from Custody: Details

The newspaper 'Zhoghovurd' reports that the National Security Service (NSS) has interrogated Yerevan judge Davit Harutyunyan. He was questioned regarding the May 18, 2019 decision by Judge Davit Grigoryan, which changed the pre-trial measure for the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, from detention to personal guarantee.

The matter arose after a Facebook user named Artak Galstyan, known as Vano's Artak, posted that the decision was drafted not by Davit Grigoryan, but by judges Mkhitar Papoyan, Vazgen Rshdun, and Arshak Vardanyan. Mkhitar Papoyan filed a report claiming defamation against him, which resulted in the initiation of a criminal case under Article 344, Part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code, concerning the defamation of a judge. Consequently, this case became the basis for the illegal wiretapping of Davit Harutyunyan.

However, it should be noted that the court has recorded that Davit Harutyunyan was wiretapped illegally, and the information obtained from the transcription of his phone conversations was deemed inadmissible and was removed.

Judge Davit Harutyunyan has been interrogated twice by the NSS in connection with this case. In an interview with 'Zhoghovurd', Judge Harutyunyan stated, 'I was not summoned directly for interrogation; rather, it was in accordance with the requirements of the judicial code that the HC was formally notified, and the time and place of the interrogation were agreed with the investigator. Initially, I was interrogated as a witness, and just weeks ago, as a victim.'

For more details, refer to today’s issue of 'Zhoghovurd.'