ArmInfo. The National Security Service of Armenia explained why the father and two daughters of Hrayr Tovmasyan were called to the NSS for the second day in a row.
According to the NSS press service, in the course of preparing materials on this case, it became necessary to get clarifications from the closest relatives of President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan. The message also says that additional information will be provided subsequently. The father of the chairman of the Constitutional Court, 75-year-old Vardan Tovmasyan, is again summoned to the National Security Service today.
Meanwhile, in front of the building of the National Security Service of Armenia, a protest rally is taking place against the actions of this structure in relation to CC's President Hrayr Tovmasyan and his family.
About 50 people gathered, the bulk of which were representatives of human rights organizations. The action is initiated by a lawyer, human rights activist, co-founder of the Legal Way NGO Ruben Melikyan. In an interview with reporters, Melikyan noted that the involvement of the NSS in political processes inflicts a blow to its authority. As for the accusation against the head of the Constitutional Court of "usurpation of power," the human rights activist noted that the data are completely groundless.
Chairman of the Chamber of Advocates is Ara Gagik Zohrabyan on his Facebook page expressed his concern about the fact that members of the Tovmasyan family have been in the focus of attention of the security forces of Armenia for several days now. Zohrabyan stated that his concern is also caused by the fact that if the President of the Constitutional Court remains defenseless in the country, then all other citizens are also in danger. Zohrabyan expressed readiness to assume the functions of lawyer for the Tovmasyan family.
It should be noted that on October 17, the press secretary of the SIS, Marina Ohanjanyan, told ArmInfo that the staff of the Special Investigation Service carried out investigative actions in the Constitutional Court and the central office of the former ruling RPA.
To recall, the Special Investigation Service opened a criminal case on the seizure of state power by a group of persons on the basis of a statement by the independent deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia Arman Babajanyan. The case was brought under Article 300 of the RA Criminal Code (seizure of power through violence or the threat of violence, as well as the appropriation of the powers of the President, NA Speaker, Government or the Constitutional Court by methods not provided for by the Constitution). The statement of the MP concerns the legality of the chairmanship of the head of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan in this position. The MP in his message to the Prosecutor General's Office noted that Tovmasyan committed violations of the law upon assuming this position in 2018. That is, Tovmasyan's MP duties were terminated without a corresponding statement, on the basis of a nonexistent justification by the that time NA President. According to Babajanyan, MP duties cannot be terminated on non-existent grounds.
Representatives of the Armenia's Human Rights Defender's office yesterday discussed issues related to the calling of the father and daughters of President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan to the National Security Service and their rights with the National Security Service. This was reported by the press service of the office of the Ombudsman of Armenia.