CEC returns Narek Karapetyan detention request

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Central Election Commission (CEC) has returned the Prosecutor’s Office’s request seeking approval to impose a preventive measure on Narek Karapetyan, attorney Aram Vardevanyan told reporters.

“The Central Election Commission returned that request. This means that the issue of imposing a preventive measure—detention or house arrest—will not arise in Narek Karapetyan’s case,” Vardevanyan said, according to Factor.am .

He said that during the CEC session, the defense presented arguments based on the relevant ruling of the Constitutional Court, particularly the provisions concerning restrictions applicable to individuals holding parliamentary status. According to Vardevanyan, the Prosecutor’s Office did not present substantive counterarguments to those claims.

The attorney said he believes the authorities may soon initiate proceedings to bring new charges against Karapetyan and seek a less restrictive preventive measure.

“The most likely scenario is that, in the near future, there will be proceedings to bring what I consider to be disgraceful, unlawful and absurd new charges against Narek Karapetyan, followed by a request for a less severe preventive measure,” he said.

At the same time, Vardevanyan stressed that the CEC’s decision to approve the request to initiate criminal proceedings was also unacceptable to the defense.

“The fact that the CEC gave its consent to the initiation of criminal charges is just as unacceptable to us as we stated from the very beginning,” he said.

Asked whether that meant Karapetyan had lost his parliamentary immunity, Vardevanyan replied that the process consists of two components.

“There are two components to parliamentary immunity. In one respect, yes; in another, no. As far as the charges are concerned, yes,” he said.

According to Vardevanyan, from a legal standpoint, the possibility of the Prosecutor’s Office submitting the same request to the National Assembly again would be problematic within the bounds of reasonable legal practice.

Earlier, the Central Election Commission approved the Prosecutor’s Office’s request to authorize the initiation of criminal proceedings against Narek Karapetyan, a member of the Strong Armenia alliance who received a parliamentary mandate. The announcement was made by Lusine Martirosyan, adviser to the Prosecutor General of Armenia.

The Prosecutor’s Office had submitted two requests to the CEC: one seeking consent to initiate criminal proceedings against Karapetyan and another seeking consent to deprive him of his liberty.