YEREVAN. – The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has received the petition from the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia for advisory opinion on cases heard by the CC, and on the basis of the respective requests by the capital city Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction and ex-President Robert Kocharyan. The CC staff has informed this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The ECHR has acknowledged the receipt of this petition and, also, has indicated that it shall be considered as a matter of priority.

Based on the requests by the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction and ex-President Kocharyan,  the CC of Armenia had petitioned to ECHR and the Venice Commission for consultative opinion on the constitutionality of Armenia’s Criminal Code Article 300.1 (overthrowing the constitutional order) that is applied regarding the criminal case against Robert Kocharyan and several other former senior officials, in connection with the tragic events that occurred in Yerevan in March 2008. 

On March 1 and 2, 2008 the then authorities of Armenia used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown 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.