Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on second President Robert Kocharyan’s statement that he will run in the forthcoming snap parliamentary election in Armenia.

“All those who will have the opportunity—by the Republic of Armenia law—and have a wish to run in the elections will run during the holding of the parliamentary elections,” the PM noted.

Kocharyan had told Armenia Sputnik that he planned to run in the snap National Assembly election.

Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has been charged within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events that transpired in capital city Yerevan on March 1 and 2, 2008—and under Article 300.1 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code; that is, breaching Armenia’s constitutional order, in conspiracy with others.

On July 27, Kocharyan was remanded in custody for two months by a court decision. But on August 13, the Court of Appeal granted Robert Kocharyan’s legal defenders’ appeal to commute the first-instance court’s decision on remanding their client in custody, and Kocharyan was released from courtroom on the grounds that he has presidential immunity.

On March 1 and 2, 2008, the then authorities used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan, and against the results of the recent presidential election. Eight demonstrators as well as two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes. But no one had been brought to account for these deaths, to this day.