PACE concerned over stripping Oskanian of deputy immunityOctober 11, 2012 - 18:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) rapporteur for the monitoring of Armenia, Axel Fischer (Germany EPP/CD), today, October 11 expressed his concern about the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian. “This is especially worrying in the light of persistent allegations that political motives have played a role in the charges that are levied against him,” PACE official website quoted Mr Fischer as saying. “If substantiated, these allegations would mean a step backwards from the positive trend with regard to political normalization that we have witnessed over the last year and a half. I have therefore written to the Speaker of the National Assembly asking him to clarify the charges, as well as the basis on which the parliament agreed to lift Mr Oskanian’s immunity,” the rapporteur concluded. The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia brought a charge against Prosperous Armenia member, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian October 8. As NSS spokesman Artsvin Baghramyan said, Oskanian was charged under paragraph 1 of Part 3 of Article 179 of the RA Criminal Code (large-scale embezzlement, punished by 4-8 years of imprisonment with or without confiscation of property) and under paragraph 1 of Part 3 of Article 190 (misuse of illegally obtained large funds, punished by 6-12 years of imprisonment with or without confiscation of property). On October 2, Armenian National Assembly resolved to strip Prosperous Armenia member, former Foreign Minister Oskanian of deputy immunity with 64 votes for, 6 against and 1 invalid, following two-day discussions over Civilitas Foundation fund misuse charges. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Armenian Catholicos calls for national unity against threats Karekin II issued a message on Republic Day marking the anniversary of the First Armenian Republic. Pashinyan: Armenia’s desired goal is “on the horizon” Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said that Armenia is moving forward “without interruption”. Opposition leader, supporters spend night at Sardarapat memorial Police made nearly 300 arrests the day before as Galstanyan and his supporters continued to demonstrate in Yerevan. Armenia designates flood-hit communities as disaster areas The emergency situation was created by floods caused by heavy rains in Armenia’s north on May 25-26. |