YEREVAN. – The investigator’s some allegation that’s not true has been the information opportunity for the publication of the BBC article on the investigation of the events of March 1, 2008. Viktor Soghomonyan, head of the office of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan, on Wednesday stated this commenting, upon the request of Armenian News-NEWS.am, on the publishing of this article and the possibility of it being ordered.
“I can’t insist whether or not the article is ordered,” he said. “But some wordings, as well as the title, certainly raise numerous questions.
“As our attorneys have clarified today, we are not dealing with facts but an investigation theory that’s not substantiated by either facts or investigation. (...) there is a chance that the article with such interpretation wasn’t published by accident.
“Some principle of parity has been retained in the article, and it’s as if views are presented which refute the versions that are put forward. (...). However, the title and some of the photo captions are not objective—if not, they are too subjective, and this raises several questions.
“I have to regret that such a prestigious publication such as the BBC has allowed itself several such inaccuracies which question the standing of this article.
“The investigator’s some allegation that’s not true is the information opportunity. For that very reason I’m saying about the strangeness of this article and the rating losses of the BBC.”
On March 1 and 2, 2008 the then authorities of Armenia used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown capital city Yerevan, and against the results of the presidential election on February 19, 2008. Eight demonstrators as well as two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes.
Second President Robert Kocharyan is charged with overthrowing the constitutional order in Armenia in connection with the aforesaid events, and taking a particularly large bribe.
The Criminal Court of Appeal overturned the first instance court’s decision on releasing Kocharyan from custody, and it ruled that he be remanded in custody yet again.
