Within the National Assembly, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan presented the motion to give consent to initiating criminal prosecution against Seyran Ohanyan, head of the opposition “Hayastan” faction. It concerns the transaction involving the alienation of one of the military units of the Ministry of Defense.
There are motions related to three proceedings, one of which was discussed in secret.
According to the prosecutor, on November 15, 2022, data were obtained through a criminal proceeding of the National Security Service that the head of the Armash community of Ararat Province, by decisions of July 11, 2005, had provided to the Ministry of Defense, with the right of indefinite use, the 1.2-hectare and 0.9-hectare special-purpose lands located at 24/1 Yerevanyan Highway and 1/4G Yerevanyan Highway in the Armash community.
At those addresses were located the headquarters, barracks, dining hall, and club of the Yeraskh military unit. At the other, the headquarters and dining hall of the Yeraskh 2 military unit.
“During the preliminary investigation, evidence was obtained that Seyran Ohanyan, holding the position of Minister of Defense in 2008-2016, used his official position contrary to the interests of service. He turned the aforementioned special-purpose plots into the property of another person, thereby appropriating them through wastefulness,” said Vardapetyan, adding that the described acts were committed in two episodes.
While the motion was being presented, Gurgen Arsenyan, a deputy of the “Civil Contract” faction, asked the main rapporteur Anna Vardapetyan what process would immediately follow a verdict issued by the court if the statute of limitations for the case had expired.
“An examination took place, the case went to court, the court issued its verdict, by which, let us suppose, there is a sentence of imprisonment; does the statute of limitations affect whether the imprisonment is served or not?” asked the deputy.
Responding, Anna Vardapetyan said: “Yes, it does; in that case no punishment is imposed, a verdict is issued, no punishment is imposed, the Criminal Procedure Code says that clearly.”
It should be noted that Seyran Ohanyan has not agreed to the non-initiation of public criminal prosecution against him on the grounds of the statute of limitations.
