Travel Ban Lifted for Yuri Khachaturov

The Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia, under the chairmanship of Narine Hovakimyan, has commenced the examination of appeals from the defenders and state prosecutors regarding the termination of the criminal case against Robert Kocharyan, Yuri Khachaturov, Seyran Ohanyan, and Armen Gevorgyan on charges of allegedly overthrowing the constitutional order.

During the previous hearing, state prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan had requested to suspend the proceedings and appealed to the Constitutional Court. The appellate court decided to postpone the resolution of the request, intending to issue a final judicial act.

At the beginning of this session, Yuri Khachaturov’s attorney, Mihran Poghosyan, requested the court to lift the travel and movement ban on Khachaturov, arguing that the criminal case against him had been terminated, and the restraining measure should be lifted. The prosecutorial side did not oppose the request; however, Seda Safaryan, the representative of the victims and their legal successors, objected, stating: “I do not agree with either the prosecutors’ or defenders’ opinions. Depending on the outcome of the appellate complaint, the situation may change, and if there is an opportunity to bring charges against Yuri Khachaturov and Seyran Ohanyan based on my appellate complaint regarding the specified crime, then maintaining the restraining measure may be necessary. Restraining measures and bans may become necessary in the future.”

The court lifted the travel ban on Yuri Khachaturov and proceeded with the examination of the appellate complaints.

It is noteworthy that on April 6, 2021, judge Anna Danibekyan of the Yerevan General Jurisdiction Court granted the motion of Robert Kocharyan’s defenders and suspended the criminal prosecution under the unconstitutional Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code. Earlier, the Constitutional Court had declared the criminal case initiated against Robert Kocharyan, Seyran Ohanyan, Yuri Khachaturov, and Armen Gevorgyan on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order as unconstitutional and void.