Epress.am News from Armenia
The Court of Appeals is preparing grounds for dismissal of Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan's appeal, according to the impression that Postanjyan's attorney, Hermine Mikaelyan, got from the court.
The opposition MP had asked that criminal proceedings be launched against notorious oligarch, ruling Republican Party of Armenia MP, and owner of the Covered Market Samvel Aleksanyan. Postanjyan claims that Aleksanyan violated Article 264 of the RA Criminal Code: he caused damage to a historical monument.
Mikaelyan, in conversation with Epress.am, said that presiding Judge Grisha Melik-Sargsyan, hearing the appeal, suggested the defense (the investigator and the prosecution) present to the court the municipality's decisions showing that Aleksanyan has been held administratively responsible and paid a penalty for damage caused to the historical building.
"The court cannot accept that what happened requires criminal prosecution. Our appeal will be rejected; probably they want to refer to the municipality's acts, as if to say, see, at least he's been subject to administrative responsibility. That is, they want that by paying the 200,000 AMD [about $500 USD], Samvel Aleksanyan is exempt from liability," said Mikaelyan.
According to the attorney, the investigator's claims that the damage occurred as a result of carelessness is not true, as there are photos that show the roof of the market did not collapse but was intentionally destroyed. Furthermore, Mikaelyan said, being careless and not having intent does not exempt one from accountability.