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EX-JUSTICE MINISTER COMMENTS ON JUDGE OHANIAN, ROYAL ARMENIA
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 8 2007
Armenia's former justice minister admitted on Monday that at least the
timing chosen for launching a disciplinary case against a district
court judge less than two months after he sensationally cleared
two businessmen of controversial charges pressed by the authorities
"leaves room for concern because it at least creates an impression
of a political link."
David Harutiunian, however, said he could not completely exclude this
link or insist on it as he lacked information for similar conclusions.
"The law provides maximum opportunity for judges to be protected
today," said Harutiunian, who currently heads Armenia's delegation
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Harutiunian's remarks came after an RFE/RL request to comment on the
case of Pargev Ohanian, a lower court judge who in July acquitted
the main owner of the Royal Armenia coffee packaging company, Gagik
Hakobian, and one of the company's top executives Aram Ghazarian of
fraud charges brought against them by prosecutors after their public
accusations of senior customs officials of corruption.
Late last month the government-controlled Judicial Department made
claims backed by the Council of Justice's Disciplinary Commission
that Ohanian had committed serious violations of Armenian law while
adjudicating on two dozen criminal and civil cases, not including the
acquittal of Royal Armenia's businessmen, though. The move, however,
is seen by many as retaliation for Ohanian's handling of the Royal
Armenia case.
In another development, acquitted businessman Gagik Hakobian was
taken into custody again early this month after Armenia's Court of
Appeals issued an arrest warrant for him for failing to attend any
of its hearings on an appeal filed by prosecutors against the July
verdict. The businessman had earlier assured the court from Spain,
where he was reportedly receiving treatment, that he wasn't hiding
from the law, but would return home soon after completing a course of
treatment. Hakobian interrupted his medical treatment in Spain and
flew back to Yerevan where he was detained by police at the airport
immediately after disembarking from the plane.
Commenting on the situation in the case, Harutiunian said that it
was up to the court to decide on whether to leave Hakobian in custody
while the hearings were on or not.
But he added: "I can say only that the European Convention on Human
Rights clearly states in what cases arrest can be applied and these
cases are very exclusive and extreme."
By Ruzanna Khachatrian
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 8 2007
Armenia's former justice minister admitted on Monday that at least the
timing chosen for launching a disciplinary case against a district
court judge less than two months after he sensationally cleared
two businessmen of controversial charges pressed by the authorities
"leaves room for concern because it at least creates an impression
of a political link."
David Harutiunian, however, said he could not completely exclude this
link or insist on it as he lacked information for similar conclusions.
"The law provides maximum opportunity for judges to be protected
today," said Harutiunian, who currently heads Armenia's delegation
to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Harutiunian's remarks came after an RFE/RL request to comment on the
case of Pargev Ohanian, a lower court judge who in July acquitted
the main owner of the Royal Armenia coffee packaging company, Gagik
Hakobian, and one of the company's top executives Aram Ghazarian of
fraud charges brought against them by prosecutors after their public
accusations of senior customs officials of corruption.
Late last month the government-controlled Judicial Department made
claims backed by the Council of Justice's Disciplinary Commission
that Ohanian had committed serious violations of Armenian law while
adjudicating on two dozen criminal and civil cases, not including the
acquittal of Royal Armenia's businessmen, though. The move, however,
is seen by many as retaliation for Ohanian's handling of the Royal
Armenia case.
In another development, acquitted businessman Gagik Hakobian was
taken into custody again early this month after Armenia's Court of
Appeals issued an arrest warrant for him for failing to attend any
of its hearings on an appeal filed by prosecutors against the July
verdict. The businessman had earlier assured the court from Spain,
where he was reportedly receiving treatment, that he wasn't hiding
from the law, but would return home soon after completing a course of
treatment. Hakobian interrupted his medical treatment in Spain and
flew back to Yerevan where he was detained by police at the airport
immediately after disembarking from the plane.
Commenting on the situation in the case, Harutiunian said that it
was up to the court to decide on whether to leave Hakobian in custody
while the hearings were on or not.
But he added: "I can say only that the European Convention on Human
Rights clearly states in what cases arrest can be applied and these
cases are very exclusive and extreme."