YEREVAN, APRIL 1, NOYAN TAPAN. Examining prosecutor party's
petition of partially renouncing criminal prosecution and
changing the brought accusation, Yerevan Kentron and Nork-Marash
communities' first instance court presided over by judge
Mnatsakan Martirosian, on April 1, on the "case of the seven" made
a decision to quash it by part 1, Article 300, RA Criminal Code
(seizing the state power) and to stop the criminal prosecution
due to the lack of corpus delicti. The court taking into
consideration the amendments made to the RA Criminal Code also
decided to withdraw the charge by part 3, Article 225 (mass
disorders accompanied by murders) from defendants' charge.
By court's decision only the case on the part of former RA
Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian and Suren Sirunian from
the "case of the seven" will continue to be examined by M.
Martirosian. The above mentioned defendants are accused by part
1, Article 225, RA Criminal Code, organizing mass disorders.
The court gave the defence party a week to get acquainted with
the new charge and fixed the next court sitting for April 8.
The materials on the part of RA NA deputy Myasnik
Malkhasian's charge were separated from the "case of the seven."
They will be examined at the same court. M. Malkhasian is
accused by part 1, Article 225, RA Criminal Code, organizing
mass disorders and by part 2, Article 38-316, assisting with use
of violence to a power representative dangerous for his life or
health.
The cases on the part of RA NA deputy Hakob Hakobian,
Grigor Voskerchian, and Shant Haroutiunian accused by part 1,
Article 225, RA Criminal Code will be also examined at the same
court.
The materials on the part of RA NA deputy Sasun Mikayelian
were sent to the Kotayk region first instance court to
examine them according to jursidiction. S. Mikayelian is accused by
part 1, Article 225 and part 1 and part 2, Article 235, RA
Criminal Code (keeping illegal arms, ammunition).
The restraint chosen to all of seven defendants, arrest,
was kept unchanged.
Hovik Arsenian, A. Arzumanian's and M. Malkhasian's lawyer,
assessed court's decision to divide the case as illegal. "On
what basis was this division done? As the charge mentions that
these people "coming to a criminal agreement organized mass
disorders," therefore the case should have been examined in a
united way. Sending the materials on the part of Sasun
Mikayelian to Kotayk region first instance court is also
unintelligible: did he commit a mass disorder there?," the
lawyer said.
H. Arsenian stated that the defence party is going to appeal
against the decision after receiving it.