Zartonk party reports Armenian premier`s crimes to RA Prosecutor  General`s Office 

ArmInfo.  The National Christian Party "Zartonk" has submitted two separate reports to the Prosecutor General of Armenia regarding crimes committed by the current Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. This was reported on his Facebook page by lawyer Ara Zohrabyan. 

According to him, in the first report, the Prosecutor General's  attention was drawn to the circumstances according to which  Pashinyan, in his personal Facebook account, openly gave instructions  to law enforcement and judicial bodies to make arrests, initiate  criminal cases, and detain high-ranking clergymen:  Archbishop Bagrat  Galstanyan, Archbishop Mikael Ajapayan, as well as businessman Samvel  Karapetyan. 

The party believes that Pashinyan, with his actions, violated the  legislative, constitutional principle of separation and balance of  executive and judicial powers, the principle of legality, interfered  in the administration of justice, publicly trampled on the  presumption of innocence of persons.

"And the Armenian parliament, represented by the Civil Contract  party, contrary to its constitutional function of control over the  executive power, adopted Pashinyan's policy of overthrowing the  constitutional order in the Republic. In this case, the legislative  body adopted and made public a statement that can have a direct  impact on the decisions of the investigative bodies, already  confirming the fact of the crime, as well as the guilt of the persons  against whom the preliminary investigation is being conducted," the  political force noted. "Zartonk" stated that the state, represented  by the Prime Minister and the National Assembly, represented by the  Civil Contract Party, openly and publicly expressing their biased  attitude towards the ongoing criminal proceedings, publicly making  accusations related to circumstances that are still subject to proof,  are guiding and directly influencing individuals with the aim of  initiating criminal prosecution and placing them in custody. 

"To sum up the above, it should be noted that the representatives of  this government, headed by Nikol Pashinyan, overthrew the  constitutional order, including actually suspending the  constitutional norm guaranteeing the separation and balance of the  legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The above actions correspond to the acts prohibited by Article 329  (Public speeches aimed at inciting or promoting hatred,  discrimination, intolerance or hostility, as well as dissemination of  materials or objects for this purpose) and Article 420 (Overthrow of  the constitutional order) of the Criminal Code of Armenia," the  political force added.

At the same time, in the second report on the crime, the Prosecutor  General's attention was drawn to the circumstances according to which  Pashinyan's actions contradict the requirements of a number of  legislative norms of the country.

In particular, in accordance with Article 18 of the Constitution of  Armenia, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the exclusive mission of  the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as a national church in the  spiritual life of the Armenian people, the development of its  national culture and the preservation of national identity.

In addition, in accordance with Part 2 of Article 2 of the Law "On  the Relationships between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian  Apostolic Holy Church", the Republic of Armenia recognizes the self-  government of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church within its  hierarchy.

Moreover, in accordance with paragraph "b" of Part 1 of Article 17 of  the Law "On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations", the  Church of the Republic of Armenia is separated from the state.   According to this provision, the state: : does not interfere in the  legal activities and internal life of churches and religious  organizations, prohibits the activities of any state body or person  performing their functions in the structure of churches and religious  organizations.

"Pashinyan has been putting pressure on the Armenian Apostolic Holy  Church for a long time, interfering in the self-governance of the  Church, in its internal affairs. The process of replacing the  Catholicos of All Armenians is a direct interference in the  self-governance of the Church.

The Charter of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church. According to  paragraph 18, the Catholicos of All Armenians is elected for life by  the National-Church Assembly of the Armenian Apostolic Church in the  Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin in accordance with the relevant  charter. It follows from the above provisions that the Catholicos of  All Armenians is elected for life by the National-Church Assembly.

Therefore, by acting against this right of the Catholicos, Pashinyan  harms the interests of both the Catholicos of All Armenians and the  Church, hindering its activities," the political force noted.

The party also drew attention to the fact that the Church has already  changed its programs (including meetings, gatherings) several times  due to the above-mentioned behavior of Pashinyan.

The party considered that the above-mentioned actions comply with  Article 209 (Obstruction of the exercise of the right to freedom of  conscience or religion) and Article 441 (Abuse of state or official  powers or the influence obtained as a result of it or abuse of power  by an official) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.