The Court of Appeal has rejected an appeal against the detention of Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, lawyer Aram Orbelyan announced at a press conference.
“The court rejected it on the same grounds it has used to dismiss numerous other appeals, providing general, formal wording without thoroughly examining the arguments,” he said, according to Sputnik Armenia.
According to Orbelyan, the defense argued in its appeal against Kocharyan’s detention that there was no reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing, as the actions attributed to the former president in the alleged offenses amounted solely to the performance of his constitutional duties.
“They say the president approved government decisions and characterize this as personal interest. There is only one motive for fulfilling constitutional duties: the obligation to perform those duties under the Constitution,” Orbelyan said.
The lawyer also stated that the statute of limitations had expired in Kocharyan’s new case, which concerns events dating back 20 years. He said the defense would appeal to the Court of Cassation on those grounds.
Orbelyan noted that they are currently waiting to see whether prosecutors will file a motion to extend Kocharyan’s detention, although the defense believes that, under all applicable rules, no such motion should be submitted.
He also addressed the fact that 60 investigators have been assigned to the case, despite its scope being such that, in his assessment, no more than 10 investigators would have been needed.
Orbelyan further stated that the detention conditions of Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan, at the Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary institution remain poor.
