Motion to Cease Criminal Proceedings Against Armen Gevorgyan Submitted, Decision to Be Announced Tomorrow

Yerevan's Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge Anna Danibekyan, has entered a consultative room to make a decision regarding the submitted motion to cease criminal proceedings against former Deputy Prime Minister and member of the Armenia parliamentary group 'Hayastan', Armen Gevorgyan.

According to a reporter from 'Factinfo', the motion is based on the fact that Armen Gevorgyan possesses immunity as a member of the PACE delegation, and according to PACE regulations, he cannot be subjected to criminal prosecution.

Prosecutor Petros Petrosyan opposed the motion, stating that it is unfounded and should be rejected. He recalled that a similar motion had previously been submitted regarding the recognition of Armen Gevorgyan's immunity, which the court had initially postponed until a decision from the Constitutional Court, and subsequently rejected after the publication of that decision.

The prosecutor emphasized that the mentioned criminal prosecution has no relation to the functions of a PACE member and is not relevant to the legal grounds claimed in the motion.

After hearing the positions of the parties, the court has entered a consultative room to make a decision, which will be announced tomorrow.

According to the indictment, Robert Kocharian is accused of using his official position while serving as the President of Armenia from 1998 to 2008 to perform actions in favor of Silva Hambardzumyan, facilitating a transaction involving the sale of 100 percent shares of a non-resident company in Armenia for the exploitation of mineral resources under special licenses, in exchange for receiving a bribe equivalent to 3 million USD from Samvel Mayrapetyan in February and May 2008, amounting to 927 million AMD.

According to the indictment, Armen Gevorgyan is accused of assisting Silva Hambardzumyan by using his official position from February 2006 to April 21, 2008, receiving a bribe equivalent to 1 million USD, amounting to 309 million AMD, in April 2008 with the assistance of Samvel Mayrapetyan, as well as distorting and concealing the true nature and origin of such funds, legitimizing income obtained through criminal means.