Tweet
MPS DISAGREE WITH ARMENIA'S JUSTICE MINISTER OVER VISITS TO DETAINEES
21:09 ~U 15.11.13
Not only opposition MPs, but also Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
parliamentary group member Davit Harutyunyan is critical of Armenian
Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan's comment on the reasons why the
MPs Nikol Pashinyan and Zaruhi Postanjyan were not allowed to visit
Tseghakron (Race religion) party leader Shant Harutyunyan, as well
as others, detained after the riots in Armenia's capital on November 5.
Explaining the reasons for the ban, Minister Tovmasyan noted that
the investigator banned all the visits to Shant Harutyunyan except
for his personal lawyer's visits, according to the law.
"I held an opinion similar to that of Minister Tovmasyan. But I have
come to realize it is wrong," Harutyunyan said.
As regards the way of resolving the problem, he said that it may be
either a court ruling or an amendment to the law.
Crossbencher Edmon Marukyan told Tert.am that there may be different
reasons for the ban, including violence against the detainees.
However, no one can restrict the MPs' right to visit detainees. As
a lawyer and MP he states that the law grants MPs the right to visit
penitentiaries.
As regards Minister Tovmasyan's statement that the ban applies to MPs
as well, Mr Marukyan said that the ban is only applied to detainees'
relatives and friends.
"But it cannot be applied to MPs, the president, the prosecutor
general, the ombudsman," Mr Marukyan said.
He disagrees with Mr Harutyunyan over amendments to the law.
"We must demand that the law serve its purposes. According to the law,
high-ranking officials can meet any detainee in penitentiaries.
Moreover, they can study his case with his consent," Marukyan said.
The Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary group member Gagik
Jhangiryan believes that Mr Pashinyan's demands are legal.
"The law grants MPs the right to visit not only penitentiaries proper,
but even individual wards, medical stations, canteens. It is not up
to investigators to decide," Mr Jhangiryan said.
He believes that Minister Tovmasyan made an arbitrary decision.
"We should specify the law to rule out such arbitrary decisions,"
he said.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/11/15/tovmasyan/
21:09 ~U 15.11.13
Not only opposition MPs, but also Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)
parliamentary group member Davit Harutyunyan is critical of Armenian
Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan's comment on the reasons why the
MPs Nikol Pashinyan and Zaruhi Postanjyan were not allowed to visit
Tseghakron (Race religion) party leader Shant Harutyunyan, as well
as others, detained after the riots in Armenia's capital on November 5.
Explaining the reasons for the ban, Minister Tovmasyan noted that
the investigator banned all the visits to Shant Harutyunyan except
for his personal lawyer's visits, according to the law.
"I held an opinion similar to that of Minister Tovmasyan. But I have
come to realize it is wrong," Harutyunyan said.
As regards the way of resolving the problem, he said that it may be
either a court ruling or an amendment to the law.
Crossbencher Edmon Marukyan told Tert.am that there may be different
reasons for the ban, including violence against the detainees.
However, no one can restrict the MPs' right to visit detainees. As
a lawyer and MP he states that the law grants MPs the right to visit
penitentiaries.
As regards Minister Tovmasyan's statement that the ban applies to MPs
as well, Mr Marukyan said that the ban is only applied to detainees'
relatives and friends.
"But it cannot be applied to MPs, the president, the prosecutor
general, the ombudsman," Mr Marukyan said.
He disagrees with Mr Harutyunyan over amendments to the law.
"We must demand that the law serve its purposes. According to the law,
high-ranking officials can meet any detainee in penitentiaries.
Moreover, they can study his case with his consent," Marukyan said.
The Armenian National Congress (ANC) parliamentary group member Gagik
Jhangiryan believes that Mr Pashinyan's demands are legal.
"The law grants MPs the right to visit not only penitentiaries proper,
but even individual wards, medical stations, canteens. It is not up
to investigators to decide," Mr Jhangiryan said.
He believes that Minister Tovmasyan made an arbitrary decision.
"We should specify the law to rule out such arbitrary decisions,"
he said.
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/11/15/tovmasyan/