Ruben Sahakyan, an attorney of Armenia’s second President Kocharyan who has been remanded in custody, said at a press conference on Saturday that he could not comment on the top secret Order No.0038—which was issued in connection with the events that occurred in capital city Yerevan in February and March 2008—and noted that there were several reasons why he could not reflect on this order.

“Otherwise, the [respective] viewpoint of my and my colleagues may be wrong, to put it mildly,” Sahakyan added, in particular.

Special Investigation Service Chief Sasun Khachatryan on Friday gave an interview to the state-funded Public TV Company of Armenia, during which he spoke about the criminal case against the second President of Armenia, gave details on the top secret Order No.0038, and said the latter was actually issued on February 23, 2008—that is, before the tragedy that occurred in Yerevan, in March of the same year. 

And reflecting on the SIS chief’s comments on Kocharyan’s refusal to partake in the investigation, Sahakyan said the SIS chief had no right to criticize the lawful actions by the second President of Armenia.

The attorneys of Kocharyan on Wednesday filed—with the Court of Appeal—an appeal of the first-instance court decision on remanding their client in custody.

As reported earlier, a charge has been brought against second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, former Defense Minister Mikayel Harutyunyan, and incumbent Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General and Armenia’s former Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Khachaturov, 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.

Since Harutyunyan is not in Armenia, a search for him was declared. And on July 27, Khachaturov was released on bail, whereas Kocharyan was remanded in custody for two months by a court decision.

On the evening of July 26, ex-President Robert Kocharyan had given an interview, during which he had said the criminal case against him was trumped-up and a political vendetta.

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.

Robert Kocharyan refuses to testify and participate in investigative actions - SIS Head