ArmInfo.If we deal with the processes of the 1990s, then our immediate problems will be ignored. On March 26 Edmon Marukyan, head of the Bright Armenia Party, told reporters, referring to the charges of former Deputy Defense Minister Vahan Shirkhanyan against the second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, made public in his open letter.
"We have more important problems. Moreover, in addition to the violations during the presidential elections of 1998, mentioned by Shirkhanyan, there were other various violations in the 1990s. Should criminal cases be initiated against them too?" - Marukyan asked the question, stressing that the affairs concerning the recent past of the country should not occupy the entire political agenda today. According to him, only the authorities should understand the crimes of the past. Referring directly to the letter of Vahan Shirkhanyan, the MP noted that in this letter the former Deputy Minister constantly refers to Vazgen Sargsyan, which is wrong approach from Marukyan's point of view. "I consider it incorrect to constantly refer to a person who has already died and cannot argue anything. But, since this topic has once again risen, then let the SIS investigate it, the whole political system of the country cannot deal with this matter, this question should not to politicize. All the perpetrators must bear a well-deserved acclaim, " the MP said.
Marukyan also noted that the criminal process should be resumed in the case of the terrorist act in parliament on October 27, 1999. At the same time, he stressed that this process should be exclusively legal, and not political. "In the case of the October 27, 1999 terrorist act, much remains unclear to this day, in particular, who ordered the crime," Marukyan concluded.
In his open letter to Robert Kocharyan, former Deputy Minister of Defense Vahan Shirkhanyan wrote, in particular: "on March 1998, March 30, the second round of presidential elections. 27 percent of the votes are cast for you, solely thanks to Vazgen Sargsyan (Prime Minister of Armenia, who died during the terrorist attack in the Parliament of Armenia on October 27, 1999, Ed. note) However, you <turned> these 27% to 59% and declared yourself President of Armenia. And Karen Demirchyan, who received 73% (later the Speaker of the Parliament, who also died during the terrorist attack, Ed. note) <Generously gave > 41%, promising him the post of Prime Minister RA, at the request of Vazgen Sargsyan. And, of course, he deceived, as always. " In the letter, Shirkhanyan also accuses Kocharyan of political assassinations, sabotage, corruption, an attempt to exchange Meghri for Lachin and even implicitly hints about his involvement in the October 27, 1999 attack. To note, Kocharyan is currently arrested on charges of overthrowing the constitutional order in the March 1, 2008 case. Concerning members of the Kocharyan family, money laundering charges were also filed. It is possible that his accusation will be supplemented with new episodes, in particular, of rigging the elections, if the remaining charges of Shirkhanyan are not considered by the relevant structures.