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The Yerevan Court of Appeals continues today examining the appeal of state prosecutors against the release of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan from pre-trial detention in August on the basis of immunity.

The former president’s defense team has also appealed against that ruling, claiming that there were also other legal grounds for his release.

His lawyers are today set to submit their petitions.

Ahead of the court hearing, one of Kocharyan’s attorneys, Aram Orbelyan told reporters they have filed a motion to the appellate court on the constitutional compliance of the charges brought against Kocharyan under Article 300 and Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code.

“We are petitioning the court since we find that the legal norms applied within the frames of the case contradict the Constitution,” he said.

Another member of Kocharyan’s defense team, Hayk Alumyan said, for his part, that they plan to file other motions to the court as well.

“Based on the outcomes of this motion, we also plan to file another motion relating to the Constitutional Court. Besides, we want to submit some other materials as well,” he said.   

Last week, the appellate court rejected a motion of Kocharyan’s lawyers to replace judge Ruben Mkhitaryan assigned to the case by a draw.

Kocharyan is charged with overthrowing Armenia’s constitutional order during the March 1-2, 2008 post-election events in Yerevan. He denies the charges as ‘politically motivated’.