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There are no clear timeframes set for the departure of Secretary General of Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Yuri Khachaturov to Russia, his attorney told Panorama.am.

“Yuri Khachaturov is currently in Armenia. I think he will directly take over his duties in the near future,” Mihran Poghosyan said.

Armenia’s Special Investigative Service said on Thursday that the court ruling is no hindrance to the CSTO head’s possible departure from Armenia for a certain period of time.

Poghosyan had earlier submitted requests to the SIS, asking for a permission for his client to leave for Moscow to perform his work duties.

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 last Friday.

He 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.   

Armenia has proposed the CSTO member states to launch a process of replacing Khachaturov as the head of the organization.