Davit Ghazinyan’s detention lifted without restrictions

PanARMENIAN.Net - A court has removed the detention measure against Strong Armenia alliance lawmaker Davit Ghazinyan without imposing any alternative restrictions.

Neither bail nor a prohibition on leaving the country was imposed on him. The judge stated that a person holding a parliamentary mandate cannot be kept in detention without the consent of the National Assembly, Radar Armenia reports.

Public prosecutor Arthur Danielyan had asked the court to replace Ghazinyan’s detention with bail of 1 billion drams, a prohibition on leaving and administrative supervision through electronic devices.

Davit Ghazinyan was greeted with applause outside the courthouse.

“Can a lawmaker be allowed to get emotional after seeing so many friends? ... The detention only showed that they cannot achieve their goal when faced with our strength. They solved no problem through detention,” he said, according to Panorama.am.

Later, speaking to reporters, Ghazinyan expressed regret that he had needed to obtain parliamentary status in order to regain his freedom.

He stressed that no one had testified against him.

Commenting on the proceedings involving the Araratcement plant and Gagik Tsarukyan, Ghazinyan said: “It seems they are deliberately acting with hostility toward this country. I have certain thoughts, but allow me not to express them at this moment. I am saying that it simply seems they are deliberately acting with hostility toward this country.”

According to Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, factual information has been obtained indicating that Davit Ghazinyan, acting under a prior agreement with supporters, gave bribes to voters.