At the trial in the “18 Righteous Ones” case, a motion was submitted to lift the house arrest imposed on Artur Sargsyan, an MP of the 9th convocation of the National Assembly.

Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan recalled parliamentary immunity, which arises from the moment the status is acquired. The CEC decision (on the lists of MPs) was published the day before yesterday, the lawyer clarified. Touching on whether the concepts of an MP’s status and powers are identical, the lawyer referred to a Constitutional Court interpretation adopted at the time, suggesting that it is the status that is meant. This means that parliamentary immunity has not now been waived, Vardevanyan emphasized. Let us recall that the MPs will assume their powers on August 2.

The prosecution objected, for some reason referring to the fact that parliamentary immunity had been waived when Sargsyan was an MP of the National Assembly of the previous convocation.

Returning from the deliberation room, Judge Farkhoyan decided that the status of an MP of the previous convocation would remain in effect until August 2, while he had already been stripped of immunity. Thus, the court found the grounds presented by the lawyer to be unfounded, and the cited Constitutional Court decision does not apply to this case, since that decision concerned a person who had not previously been an MP. Sargsyan’s term of house arrest ends on August 8, the judge reminded, implying that after August 2 the lawyer would be able to resubmit the motion.

The judge also added that Sargsyan would be able to take part in the National Assembly session accompanied by police officers.

Aram Vardevanyan stated that the judge’s decision would result in strict disciplinary action against him, since it has nothing to do with the law.