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Armenia proposed member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) to start a procedure of replacing the organization’s Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov, Spokesperson at foreign ministry Tigran Balayan told Armenpress news agency.

“This is a strictly internal legal process, and an Armenian citizen is involved within the ongoing criminal case being investigated in Armenia. Given that the talk relates to the case involving the person which currently is serving as the CSTO Secretary General and attaching great importance to the Organization’s reputation and uninterrupted normal activity, Armenia has suggested the CSTO partner states to launch a process of replacing the Secretary General. Armenia strictly adheres to the commitment on strengthening the CSTO and will continue to be actively involved in the joint activities on this path”, Balayan has noted, as quoted by the source.

To remind, the CSTO acting Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov is charged with overthrowing constitutional order in Armenia in 2008 in the scope of the investigation into the so-called March 1 events - the post presidential election crackdown in 2008 during which eight civilians and two police officers were killed. Khachaturov was released from custody on bail on Friday. 

To note, Khachaturov served as the Chief of the Yerevan garrison at a time of March 1, 2008, and on March 15 was appointed by the then President Robert Kocharyan as Chief of General Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces.