Proposed Sentence of 7-12 Years Imprisonment: Danibekyan on Robert Kocharyan's Charges

In the General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan, presided over by Judge Anna Danibekyan, the trial of the second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan continues.

Prosecutor Petros Petrosyan read the concluding part of the indictment, which states that Robert Kocharyan is charged under Article 311, part 4, point 2 of the Criminal Code of RA, while Armen Gevorgyan is charged under Article 311, part 4, point 2 and Article 190, part 3, point 1.

"Robert Kocharyan is charged for using his official position as President of Armenia from April 9, 1998, to April 9, 2008, to facilitate actions benefiting Silva Hambartsumyan, the sole participant and director of 'TSSCI Armenia' LLC, failing to obstruct the transaction for selling 100% share of the company to a non-resident company in Armenia, in exchange for a bribe equivalent to 3,000,000 USD, which he received in large amounts amounting to 927,000,000 AMD in February and May 2008 with the assistance of Samvel Mayrapetyan.

Armen Gevorgyan is accused of receiving a bribe equivalent to 1,000,000 USD, amounting to 309,000,000 AMD, from Silva Hambartsumyan with the assistance of Samvel Mayrapetyan, and legalizing the received income, while serving in an official capacity in state bodies from February 2006 to April 21, 2008,” the charges state.

Judge Anna Danibekyan announced that for the specified articles, the proposed punishment is imprisonment for a term of 7 to 12 years, with or without confiscation of property.

Robert Kocharyan's lawyer Hayk Alumyanz stated that the charges are unclear and requested a 20-minute break to clarify which specific provisions of the indictment are ambiguous. Alumyanz expressed confidence that the court would also reach the same conclusion.

“I am convinced that the charges are not even clear to the investigator who dictated them,” said the defense attorney.