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Former Secretary General of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Yuri Khachaturov, who was recalled from the post on 2 November, has returned to Armenia, his advocate Mihran Poghosyan told Panorama.am.

“Mr Khachaturov is now in Yerevan,” he said, adding the fact that his client has not been summoned for questioning during this period is not linked with his absence from Armenia.

“Yuri Khachaturov doesn’t seek to avoid justice,” the advocate said.

The CSTO Collective Security Council announced a decision on November 2 to dismiss Khachaturov from office as the organization’s secretary general. The dismissal had been proposed by Armenia after the country’s Special Investigative Service charged him with overthrowing the constitutional order during the March 1-2, 2008 post-election crackdown in Yerevan.  

A spokesman for the acting Armenian prime minister, Arman Yegoryan said the issue on appointing a new CSTO chief was set to be discussed at the summit in Astana on Thursday.

Khachaturov, who served as the chief of the Armenian Armed Forces’ Yerevan Garrison back in 2008, was released on a bail of 5 million drams (about $10,000) after being put in custody for two months.

He has denied any wrongdoing.