The escape of ex-officials charged under several criminal cases must be observed from the perspectives of lawfulness and justice. This is what Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said during a question-and-answer session with government officials at the National Assembly today, responding to the question of deputy of the ruling My Step Alliance Victor Yengibaryan about the escape of former Prosecutor General of Armenia Gevorg Kostanyan, who is charged under the case of the events of March 1, 2008. The Prime Minister said both the public and the government are concerned about the issue of justice, but there is also a matter of lawfulness.

He brought up the example of former nature protection minister Aram Harutyunyan who, being a deputy, had the status of immunity. Pashinyan said he left the country, knowing about the institution of a criminal case against him, and law-enforcement authorities weren’t able to stop him due to his immunity. He added that there is another official who might leave the country, knowing that he will be criminally prosecuted. “We might not be able to bring all of those people back, but the important thing is to observe the letter and spirit of the law,” the Prime Minister emphasized.