On 29 June, the Anti-Corruption Court continued the investigation of the case against the leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” Party Gagik Tsarukyan and the Director of “Multi Group” Sedrak Arustamyan. Judge Aram Grigoryan presided the court session.

The charge was filed under of Article 219 Part 1 of the Criminal Code, that is, giving an election bribe. According to the materials of the case, Vazgen Poghosyan, who was number 22 in the voter list of the “Tsarukyan” Alliance, said that Tsarukyan offered him to participate in the elections on the condition that he would secures 9 thousand votes in Gegharkunik region. Poghosyan also turned to Sedrak Arustamyan, the Director of “Multi Group” belonging to the Tsarukyan family, and Abraham Manukyan, a former member of the “Prosperous Armenia” Party Armenia, to receive money. 

Both of them do not accept the accusation of paying bribes during the 2017 parliamentary elections.

According to Iravaban.net, the lawyers of the defendants demand to provide them with the case materials on the basis of which the case against Gagik Tsarukyan and Sedrak Arustamyan was initiated. It should be noted that the criminal case currently being examined in the court was initiated on the basis of the materials of another case, which is still being investigated. The part concerning Tsarukyan and Arustmyan was separated from this main case and sent to the court.

Public Prosecutor Davit Aghajanyan insisted that the petition should not even be discussed, because all the materials related to the charges against the defendants have been provided to the parties. “The investigation of the criminal case is still ongoing. We are talking about a rather large criminal case.”

Defender Yerem Sargsyan mentioned that in such conditions the defense side is not given a full opportunity to defend itself.

Defendant Gagik Tsarukyan also made a statement in court.

“Listening to what the prosecutor said, I am just ashamed. So much examination was conducted, 120 examiners, examining, up to 1000-2000, bringing them and taking away, locking the people some of them for 1 month, the others for 2 months. No one said that Tsarukyan gave money or bribes. It is a shame. We understood that there was a political situation, this happened, that happened. Has Tsarukyan made a statement regarding 5 June? And this is why we are in current situation today. You are Armenian, you live in this country, you have families, aren’t you humans. Did I say on 5 June, what will be our fate, what will be our situation? Does what I said become true?” Tsarukyan declared, adding that only 3 of the 55 volumes of the case were presented, the rest were “taken and kept”.

Prosecutor Davit Aghajanyan urged the court to call the defendant to restraint and common sense. “To who is shame? Who are you talking to?

The judge urged the parties not to enter into the personal sphere, not to make such expressions. “Everyone is doing their job; please treat each other with respect.”

In addition, the court granted the petition of the defense side, all the materials of the criminal case will be requested from the National Security Service due the time of separating the part from the case. The lawyers proposed to postpone the session in order to get acquainted with the materials of the case and assess the volume.

The prosecutor announced that he considers the court’s decision illegal and groundless. “What position can we talk about?”

According to Aram Grigoryan’s decision, the session was postponed; the date of the next session will be announced later.

Journalists tried to ask Gagik Tsarukyan questions in the courtyard, but the latter refused to answer the questions.