Aram Karapetyan suspected in false denunciation of President and Prime Minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Aram Karapetyan, the leader of New Times party, is still kept in a cell of the National Security Service.



Karapetyan's lawyer Harutyun Baghdasaryan said he was detained for a 3-day term. A criminal case in compliance with article 333 of the RA Penal Code was initiated against him. The article provides for punishment for false denunciation of President Robert Kocharian and Prime Minister Serzh Sarsgyan who allegedly planned to swap Meghri for independence of Nagorno Karabakh.



Karapetyan claims this was not accusation but 'statement of the question'. DVDs with Karapetyan's speeches have been already submitted as evidence, the lawyer said.



Meanwhile New Times spokesman Emanuel Margaryan said that Karapetyan is accused of false denunciation because he touched on the intention of the authorities to cede Meghri. "Mr Karapetyan said that "according to a special plan, evacuation of the population as well as construction works amounting to $4,6 million were plotted. That is why he requested the prosecutor general's office, the parliament and the National Security Service for explanation," IA Regnum reports.



Article 333 of the RA Penal Code supposes false information on a crime which is designedly false. The articles provides for a penalty amounting to 400 minimal salaries, arrest from one to three months or imprisonment up to 2 years. The same deed aggravates by fabrication of evidence or for mercenary ends supposes up to 5 years in prison.



Earlier, the Police confirmed the arrests of former deputy prosecutor general Gagik Jahangiryan, his brother Vardan Jahangiryan and their attendants. Republic party political council member Smbat Ayvazyan, his two attendants as well as bodyguards of MP Khachatur Sukiasyan were also detained.