ArmInfo."I do not intend to answer any question of the investigation," Vazgen Manukyan, a single opposition candidate for Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, told reporters, commenting on the agenda according to which the Special Investigative Service (SSS) opened a criminal case against him on February 20, 2021 under Article 301 of the RA Criminal Code.
According to the oppositionist, the statements made by him should be commented on by lawyers. In fact, Manukyan continued, this is about political persecution. He noted that over the past 2.5 years, the Constitution has been violated at least once a month, including by the head of government, but no reaction from law enforcement agencies has been observed.
One of such violations, the oppositionist continued, is the surrender of the territories of the Syunik region after the hostilities, which means the greatest crime and the gross violation of the Basic Law of the country. "" It is necessary to initiate a criminal case against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. From today on I can declare that I do not accept the criminal case initiated against me. I will consult with lawyers, and if there is a need to make a statement, it will follow, "Vazgen Manukyan noted, not seeing any illegal actions in his statements.
The oppositionist recalled that the first time a criminal case against him was initiated in 1988, when he had to serve in prison "Sailor's silence". After that incident, there were so many criminal cases that I can not remember. Today, as Vazgen Manukyan noted, one thing is clear for everyone - Nikol Pashinyan must leave. "I am one of those who implement this national demand, and in any situation I will adhere to this desire," Vazgen Manukyan added, adding that the current head of government has privatized Armenia. Note that the opposition candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia Vazgen Manukyan received a summons to the Special Investigation Service (SSS). Article 301 of the RA Criminal Code provides for responsibility for public calls for the usurpation of power, overthrow of the constitutional order or violation of territorial integrity. For this crime, it is proposed to punish with a fine from 300 thousand drams to 500 thousand drams or arrest for a term of two to three months, or imprisonment for a term of no more than three years. Article 301.1 introduces responsibility for coercing the President, the National Assembly, the government, the Constitutional Court by using violence or under the threat of its use to commit actions within their powers. Such actions are punishable by imprisonment for a term of three to 15 years.