Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday responded to second President Robert Kocharyan.

Kocharyan on Wednesday had stated that the disseminated recording of a telephonic conversation between the National Security Service director and the Special Investigation Service head proves that their objective was to have him arrested.

The PM told reporters that his objective is to “lock up” everyone who committed the crime of March 2008 in capital city Yerevan.

Pashinyan added that actions have been taken in connection with the bodyguards of Armenia’s oligarchs, and that this has already been reported. 

The rest of the measures will be reported as needed.

Second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan has been charged 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.

On July 27, Kocharyan was remanded in custody for two months by a court decision. But on August 13, the Court of Appeal granted Robert Kocharyan’s legal defenders’ appeal to commute the first-instance court’s decision on remanding their client in custody, and Kocharyan was released from courtroom on the grounds that he has presidential immunity.

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.