The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction today rejected the motion filed for applying to the Constitutional Court in regard to the absence of procedures for overcoming the parliamentary immunity of deputy of the opposition “Armenia” Faction of the National Assembly of Armenia, former Director of Izmirlian Medical Center Armen Charchyan.

During the previous court hearing, Charchyan’s attorney Erik Aleksanyan had filed a motion to apply to the Constitutional Court on the ground of absence of procedures for overcoming Charchyan’s parliamentary immunity.

The attorney stated that Charchyan has parliamentary unity and that a deputy can be criminally prosecuted only upon the consent of the National Assembly, but the existing regulations don’t provide for a mechanism or procedure for receive consent to continue criminal prosecution.

During this period, Charchyan’s health condition worsens from time to time, but he is still in custody.

As reported earlier, the Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia had granted the appeal of the Prosecutor General’s Office against the decision to release Charchyan on bail. Afterwards, Charchyan, at his initiative, went to a penitentiary institution and was arrested. Later, his health condition worsened, and he was transferred to a civic hospital. On August 24, Charchyan suffered an acute stroke and has serious diabetes, and this is simply incompatible with custody.

Armen Charchyan is charged under Article 154.2 of the Criminal Code—that is, giving bribes to voters, taking bribes, violating the ban on charity during elections, or obstructing the exercise of a voter's free will.