Robert Kocharian's Defenders Request to Lift or Reduce Bail

The Court of Appeals, presided by Judge Narine Hovakimyan, continued hearings today regarding the appeals of the defenders and prosecutors concerning the termination of the alleged constitutional order subversion case against Armenia's second president, Robert Kocharian.

Defender Hovhannes Khudoyan requested to either lift the bail condition imposed on the president or reduce its amount. It is noteworthy that, under a decision by Judge Arsen Nikoghosyan in June of last year, Robert Kocharian was released on a bail of 2 billion drams, a historically unprecedented amount for Armenia.

The defender noted that most of the reasons for the bail condition outlined in the decision by the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan regarding the termination of criminal prosecution under Article 300.1 have ceased to exist.

Defender Hayk Alumyank has requested to overturn the decision of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan dated April 6, 2021 (the acquittal judgment under Article 300.1) concerning Kocharian's bail condition, to cancel the imposed bail, or otherwise to reconsider and reduce the bail amount.

Prior to this, defender Mhran Poghosyan representing Yuri Khachaturov submitted a motion to the court, requesting to lift the restrictions on his client's exit from Armenia. He reminded that, according to the decision of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan, criminal prosecution against Khachaturov, Seyran Ohanyan, Robert Kocharian, and Armen Gevorgyan under Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code has been terminated, yet Khachaturov’s right to free movement remains restricted as an appeal has been filed.

Other defenders joined the motion, and the prosecution did not object. After hearing the parties, the court decided to satisfy the motion by lifting the ban on Yuri Khachaturov crossing borders.

The examination of the appeals will continue at the next court session on September 15 at 10:30 AM.