SIS: CSTO chief can leave Armenia despite court ruling
Secretary General of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Yuri Khachaturov is free to leave for Moscow to perform his work duties, a spokesperson of the Special Investigative Service (SIS) told Panorama.am.
The court ruling is no hindrance to the CSTO chief’s departure from Armenia, Marina Ohanjanyan said, adding Khachaturov has been informed about it.
Mihran Poghosyan, Khachaturov's attorney, had earlier submitted requests to the SIS, asking for a permission for him to depart for his workplace.
Khachaturov is charged with overthrowing the constitutional order (Article 300.1, Criminal Code of Armenia) in 2008 in the scope of an investigation into the so-called March 1 events – the post-presidential election crackdown in 2008, which left eight civilians and two police officers dead. He was released from custody on bail on Friday.
Khachaturov served as the Chief of the Yerevan Garrison at a time of March 1, 2008, and on March 15 was appointed by then President Robert Kocharyan as Chief of General Staff of Armenia’s Armed Forces.