ArmInfo. The Government of Armenia extended the term of the decision from May 22, 2008 on providing the second president of Armenia Robert Kocharyan with office and property for another 5 years. The latter is currently accused of overthrowing the constitutional order. The draft decision on this issue was included on the agenda of the government's today meeting, among the so-called "non-reported" issues.
The draft decision of 2008 states, that a contract is signed between the Republic of Armenia and Erebuni Plaza LLC on sublease of office space with an area of 374.1 sq m. This space and office equipment for the amount of 17,586,280 drams were transferred to Robert Kocharyan for uncompensated use until 13 August, 2018.
The Armenian government annually allocated an amount of 2000.0 thousand drams for rent. As a result of negotiations with Erebuni Plaza LLC, a preliminary agreement was reached on extending the contract for 5 years on the same terms.
To recall, on July 28 the first instance court of Shengavit district of Yerevan granted the request of the Special Investigation Service of Armenia about the election of arrest as a measure of restraint against the second President Robert Kocharyan for a period of 2 months for the overthrow of the constitutional order in the criminal case on dispersal protest actions on March 1, 2008. On August 13 the Armenian Court of Appeal granted the petition of the lawyers of ex- President Robert Kocharyan and canceled the decision of the first instance court. The Special Investigative Service of Armenia stated that the decision was illegal, and the Criminal Court of Appeal went beyond its powers. On August 20, the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia at the Court of Cassation appealed the decision of the Court of Appeal to release former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan from the arrest. Head of SIS Sasun Khachatryan stressed that if the Court of Cassation suddenly decides that Robert Kocharyan is not subject to criminal prosecution taking into account his presidential status, which, according to him, is absurd, since a person can not have absolute immunity in connection with his/her office, consideration of the matter will go to the next level - to the Constitutional Court. One of the lawyers of Robert Kocharyan, Hayk Alumyan in turn said that if the Court of Cassation of Armenia decides to re-arrest the second president, they will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).