ArmInfo. The escape of former officials involved in a number of criminal cases must be considered in terms of lawfulness and justice. RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on December 4, answering the question of the National Assembly lawmaker Viktor Yengibaryan about the escape of the former Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan, who is charged under the case of March 1, 2008.
According to him, the issue of justice worries the public, and the government shares this concern. But here arises a question of lawlness. As an example, the head of government brought the escape of the former Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan, who, as a member of the parliament, had immunity status. He left the country, already knowing about the initiation of criminal proceedings against him, and law enforcement agencies could not prevent this, based on that status of immunity. "Imagine how much noise would be made if he was stopped," said Nikol Pashinyan. He added that just yesterday the issue of another official was being discussed, who, most likely, would also leave the country, knowing the fact of the criminal prosecution. " We probably will manage to return some of these people, but it is important to follow the letter and spirit of the law," Nikol Pashinyan stated, adding that the state should be strong not by its brute force, but by the application of laws, and in this matter it is necessary to be as consistent as possible.
To recall, at the beginning of the year, former MP from the Republican Party faction Aram Harutyunyan (popularly known as "Bulki Aram") was prosecuted as part of a criminal case under clause 2 of part 4 of article 311 (bribe by an official in especially large amounts for knowingly unlawful act or omission in favor of the bribe giver) and under clause 1 of part 3 of article 190 (Legalization of proceeds from crime) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. According to the prosecution, on June 8, 2007, while occupying the post of Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia, Aram Harutyunyan demanded and received a bribe of $ 14 million from businesswoman Silva Hambartsumyan to issue a license to study and develop non-ferrous metal deposits in the Syunik, Gegharkunik and Lori regions of the republic. Of this amount, 6 million were transferred through relatives of the former minister in cash. Harutyunyan received another part of the bribe - $ 8 million - with the help of his friends, through transfers from various accounts opened in the UAE. To hide the real source of origin of the amount, he transferred funds to the bank account of an international organization in Switzerland. Harutyunyan periodically transferred money from this account to the account of a company operating in Armenia, which belongs to a person who has close relations with the former minister. At the same time, the investigation revealed a solid list of real estate - mansions, apartments, a residential complex in Yerevan, a restaurant, land and about one and a half million dollars in cash.