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VICE SPEAKER TO U.S. AMBASSADOR: DON'T MIX POLITICS WITH LEGAL MATTERS POLITICS | 11.10.12 | 17:33
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
The Vice-speaker of the Armenian Parliament responded to the US
Ambassador's recent statement about Vartan Oskanian, saying that
ambassadors should refrain from politicizing legal issues and
connecting them with elections.
US Ambassador in Armenia John Heffern made a statement on Wednesday
related to the fact that the National Assembly stripped Prosperous
Armenia Party MP, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian of
his diplomatic immunity and then was formally charged with money
laundering, saying that "it is bad for justice and democracy in
Armenia".
Ruling Republican Party spokesperson, parliament vice-speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov said in his interview to RFL/RL on Wednesday that "it
is impermissible and unrealistic to connect every legal process
to elections".
"Naturally, I do not share the honorable US Ambassador's opinion
expressed in his statement according to which 'the case appears to
represent the selective application of Armenian law', because this
is a purely legal matter. Our opinion is the same as before - it's
a legal matter and politicizing or making it a party-related issue
is impermissible," said Sharmazanov, pointing out that there are
criminal cases on a number of Republicans, who are either in custody
or in prison.
Heffern discussed the Oskanian affair with PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan
in a private conversation on Wednesday.
Tsarukyan's spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan reports that during the meeting
Heffern expressed a hope that the Armenian authorities will fulfill
their function and will ensure rule of law in dealing with this case.
Tsarukyan said that he will see to it that the case has unbiased
investigation and a just verdict is carried out.
"I have instructed the best lawyers to study the case which they have
done and have confirmed that all the charges brought against Oskanian
are groundless. During the party political board meeting I personally
instructed all the faction members to make strict, principle-based
statements and speeches," said Tsarukyan.
From: Baghdasarian
By Gohar Abrahamyan
ArmeniaNow
The Vice-speaker of the Armenian Parliament responded to the US
Ambassador's recent statement about Vartan Oskanian, saying that
ambassadors should refrain from politicizing legal issues and
connecting them with elections.
US Ambassador in Armenia John Heffern made a statement on Wednesday
related to the fact that the National Assembly stripped Prosperous
Armenia Party MP, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian of
his diplomatic immunity and then was formally charged with money
laundering, saying that "it is bad for justice and democracy in
Armenia".
Ruling Republican Party spokesperson, parliament vice-speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov said in his interview to RFL/RL on Wednesday that "it
is impermissible and unrealistic to connect every legal process
to elections".
"Naturally, I do not share the honorable US Ambassador's opinion
expressed in his statement according to which 'the case appears to
represent the selective application of Armenian law', because this
is a purely legal matter. Our opinion is the same as before - it's
a legal matter and politicizing or making it a party-related issue
is impermissible," said Sharmazanov, pointing out that there are
criminal cases on a number of Republicans, who are either in custody
or in prison.
Heffern discussed the Oskanian affair with PAP leader Gagik Tsarukyan
in a private conversation on Wednesday.
Tsarukyan's spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan reports that during the meeting
Heffern expressed a hope that the Armenian authorities will fulfill
their function and will ensure rule of law in dealing with this case.
Tsarukyan said that he will see to it that the case has unbiased
investigation and a just verdict is carried out.
"I have instructed the best lawyers to study the case which they have
done and have confirmed that all the charges brought against Oskanian
are groundless. During the party political board meeting I personally
instructed all the faction members to make strict, principle-based
statements and speeches," said Tsarukyan.
From: Baghdasarian