Your trusted source

Supporters of Armenia’s ex-president Robert Kocharyan held a sit-in outside the Yerevan Court of general jurisdiction demanding urgent an urgent court hearing to release the ex-president from custody. Citing the September 3 Constitutional Court ruling, the protesters insist that the Court of the general jurisdiction should reconsider the detention as a restraint measure for Kocharyan.

The actual court hearing is scheduled for September 12. “We asked to covey our request to Judge Anna Danibekyan. We are waiting for the Judge’s response.” one of the protesters Gagik Baghdasaryan said. To note, Armenia's Constitutional Court ruled on Monday on the constitutionality of two articles of the Armenian Code of Procedural Justice regarding the ex-president’s arrest. The Court cited in its decision the constitutional provision of immunity of presidents from prosecution, partly approving the ex-president’s appeal.

Following the ruling, the defense team of the ex-President filed motion to the Yerevan court of general jurisdiction to lift the arrest as the preventive detention measure and suspend the criminal prosecution. Robert Kocharyan faces charges of overthrowing the constitutional order during the post-electoral events in March 1-2, 2008. The ex-president is currently in custody pending trial. Kocharyan and his defense team strongly deny the charges and call the criminal prosecution “politically motivated”.