Courts Should have Decided Beglaryan’s Guilt: Hovannisian

“It’s gainful, when the government tries to apply the letter of the law on officials, but I would consider it preferable for this to have a natural legal process, for the victims of the alleged assault to appeal to law enforcement bodies and the court decide the issue of guilt, on the basis of which the executive authorities, the presidential residence could take [the necessary] steps,” said Heritage Party founder Raffi Hovannisian, speaking to journalists today on the incident which took place between Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglaryan and a member of the presidential staff, as a result of which Beglaryan was compelled to resign.

Hovannisian welcomed the reaction to the situation, but said it won’t have legal value as long as there hasn’t been a reflection in the rule of law and in the application of the process.

The Heritage Party leader also noted that numerous individuals have been subjected to beating by officials; however, since the victim is not close to the ruling elite and is not a state official himself, those incidents are never the subject of press conferences, public hearings and court sessions. 

“There are hundreds of cases before this one, just as important as these issues are, that likewise have to be resolved. If this is a stimulus for a future way of working, then that’s great, but this mustn’t become a reflection of clan-, coulisses-based decisions, but it must become a pledge for equal application of the letter of the law,” concluded Hovannisian.