Kocharyan goes to court against Premier Pashinyan

Robert Kocharyan, the second Armenian president, demands from the court to recognize Nikol Pashinyan's statements as slander.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Robert Kocharyan was arrested on July 27, 2018, on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order in connection with the dispersal of protest actions in Yerevan on March 1-2, 2008. On August 13, the Court of Appeal (CoA) cancelled his arrest, referring to the immunity of the former Armenian president.

In his lawsuit, Mr Kocharyan has demanded to defend his honour and dignity from public libel, the "News-Armenia" quotes today the message posted on the website of the judicial information system. However, it is not specified, which particular Pashinyan's statements have caused Kocharyan's indignation.

The trigger was in Mr Pashinyan’s words about unlawfulness of Kocharyan's release pronounced during his visit to France on September 14, the "News.am" reports referring to Hayk Aoumyan, the former president's representative in the court.

The "Arminfo.info" writes that during his meeting with the Armenian community of Paris, Nikol Pashinyan gave explanations regarding Kocharyan in connection with the wiretapping of the conversation of the heads of the National Security Service and the Special Investigation Service of Armenia. "As for the formulation of Robert Kocharyan's release – on his immunity. What does it mean to be immune? Is that you may organize people's killings and stay immune?" Kocharyan's advocate quotes Pashinyan's words treated by his client as slander.

The advocate has added that Kocharyan claims no compensation, but public apologies.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 25, 2018 at 10:40 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.