Parliamentary Prosecutor Anna Vardapetyan has submitted a motion to the National Assembly seeking authorization to initiate public criminal prosecution against MP Taron Margaryan.

During a closed-door session of the ruling Civil Contract faction, MP Vladimir Vardanyan addressed the prosecutor, stating, “The criminal cases were terminated due to the statute of limitations. Now you come and expect parliamentary consent to initiate criminal proceedings on the same facts,” as reported by Panorama.am .

Vardanyan also questioned why proceedings had not been initiated in time and why action was delayed until after the expiration of the limitation period.

In response, the prosecutor explained, “The Court of Cassation has answered your question directly. In this case, one cannot restrict a person’s right, which here involves not only a predicate offense but also money laundering. The rationale comes from a precedent set by the Court of Cassation, which determined that a submission could not be made with only a description. We are now sending it with an objective description of the act.”

Neither the opposition I Have Honor nor Armenia factions attended the discussion, nor did Taron Margaryan himself. Earlier, he issued a statement urging colleagues not to participate in what he called a “circus.”

In his statement, Margaryan emphasized that the process was yet another episode in ongoing political pressure targeting him and his team.

“This is just the latest chapter in the seven-year political persecution against me—a parade of lies and cowardice, whose sole aim is to deter me and my allies from our just struggle.

I am tempted to expose the real motives and facts behind this process from the parliamentary podium. But doing so would make me part of the ruling regime’s propaganda performance. The truth is already obvious to everyone, and there will be plenty of chances to voice it, but not within this theater. The order to fabricate the case has already been given, and the vote is merely a formality,” the statement read.

The Civil Contract faction held the closed session to determine its stance on the prosecutor’s motions regarding both Hovik Aghazaryan and Taron Margaryan, according to Factor.am .