Armenian parliament strips former defense minister of immunity

The Armenian parliament has stripped Seyran Ohanyan, the leader of the Hayastan faction, of his parliamentary immunity, Report informs via Armenian media.

The petition for removing his parliamentary immunity was submitted to the legislative body by Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan.

A secret ballot was held, and 59 out of 107 MPs voted in favor of removing immunity, with no votes against.

Ohanyan himself had earlier called this case a show and did not participate in the discussion as he was receiving treatment at a rehabilitation center.

As a result of the secret ballot, the parliament also stripped Artsvik Minasyan, the secretary of the Hayastan faction, of parliamentary immunity with 59 votes in favor and 0 against.

The secretary of the Hayastan faction is accused in the case of former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

In particular, he is accused of legalizing illegal property, a mansion located in Drakhtik village, in the territory of Sevan National Park. According to the investigation, the mansion belongs to Ohanyan.

According to the prosecutor's version, Minasyan, who worked as the Minister of Environmental Protection from 2016-2018, should have reported the illegal construction, but did not do so.

As a result, the prosecutor's office faced additional difficulties. The mansion was not only legalized but also included in an investment program that provided for its subsequent public use.

Ohanyan is accused of illegally appropriating 10,500 square meters of land in the Drakhtik community of Gegharkunik region during his time as Defense Minister from 2010-2015.