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"THE CHARGES AGAINST OSKANIAN MAY BE DROPPED AND SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE CHARGED," GALUST SAHAKYAN SAYS
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/10/01/115455/
October 1, 2012 22:03
"You know what, this is not a court, where one side accuses, the
other side defends or doesn't defend itself. This is just the National
Assembly, which I think should decide whether it allows involving Mr.
Oskanian in the whole investigation process as an accused.
The rest is the business of the attorney's office and the court. As
for all those arguments put forward by Mr. Oskanian, no one of
us has said that he accuses Mr. Oskanian. The application itself
doesn't mention that. It mentions that there are accusations and an
investigation should be conducted," Galust Sahakyan, the leader of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group said about
the application to withdraw Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Vartan
Oskanian's immunity during a conversation with www.aravot.am today.
We asked to clarify whether he would personally vote in favor, he
replied, "It is a secret ballot, but I can tell you about the principle
- at the end of the day, one cannot leave that issue suspended. The
applicant says that you are guilty; the defendant says that he is not
guilty. The society doesn't expect that. The accuser must be able
to completely substantiate his accusation and the accused should
try to say that he is actually honest. The charges against Oskanian
may be dropped at the end of the investigation and someone else may
be charged."
In response to our observation that Vartan Oskanian was deeply
offended by this attitude of the government and our question whether
it was appropriate, Galust Sahakyan didn't say anything. Instead,
he recalled the following, "By the way, let me say that those who
urge today not to withdraw the immunity have said for years that
the parliamentary immunity should be voided. Today proved it cannot
be voided." In response to a question whether those who made fiery
speeches today might stand by Oskanian during the vote, he said,
"It doesn't matter whether they will or will not stand. The matter
is that the Constitution rightfully provides for the MP's immunity,
in order that there are no misunderstandings in such cases."
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
From: A. Papazian
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/10/01/115455/
October 1, 2012 22:03
"You know what, this is not a court, where one side accuses, the
other side defends or doesn't defend itself. This is just the National
Assembly, which I think should decide whether it allows involving Mr.
Oskanian in the whole investigation process as an accused.
The rest is the business of the attorney's office and the court. As
for all those arguments put forward by Mr. Oskanian, no one of
us has said that he accuses Mr. Oskanian. The application itself
doesn't mention that. It mentions that there are accusations and an
investigation should be conducted," Galust Sahakyan, the leader of
the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group said about
the application to withdraw Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) MP Vartan
Oskanian's immunity during a conversation with www.aravot.am today.
We asked to clarify whether he would personally vote in favor, he
replied, "It is a secret ballot, but I can tell you about the principle
- at the end of the day, one cannot leave that issue suspended. The
applicant says that you are guilty; the defendant says that he is not
guilty. The society doesn't expect that. The accuser must be able
to completely substantiate his accusation and the accused should
try to say that he is actually honest. The charges against Oskanian
may be dropped at the end of the investigation and someone else may
be charged."
In response to our observation that Vartan Oskanian was deeply
offended by this attitude of the government and our question whether
it was appropriate, Galust Sahakyan didn't say anything. Instead,
he recalled the following, "By the way, let me say that those who
urge today not to withdraw the immunity have said for years that
the parliamentary immunity should be voided. Today proved it cannot
be voided." In response to a question whether those who made fiery
speeches today might stand by Oskanian during the vote, he said,
"It doesn't matter whether they will or will not stand. The matter
is that the Constitution rightfully provides for the MP's immunity,
in order that there are no misunderstandings in such cases."
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
From: A. Papazian