Prosecution insists that Gagik Khachatryan should remain under arrest

ArmInfo. Prosecutor on the case of former Minister of Finance of Armenia Gagik Khacharyan Gevrog Sargsyan, stated that the latter should remain under arrest. Sargsyan stated this during the court session on August 26.

According to the prosecutor, Khachatryan, being set free, can hinder  the investigation process, as he has very extensive connections.  Moreover, he may try to hide from the investigation, as his sons did.

Sargsyan also stressed that there is plenty of evidence proving  Khachatryan's involvement in the alleged actions. According to the  prosecutor, even a superficial examination of the case, one can  understand that Khachatryan is indeed connected with this case. As  evidence, the prosecutor stated that there is evidence from former  Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, General Director of the  "Multi Group" concern Sedrak Arustamyan and others.

However, Khachatryan's defense is of a different opinion. According  to the lawyer Erem Sargsyan, the materials of the case do not include  data that justify his client.  It should be noted that during the  hearing, Khachatryan's defense also petitioned for the challenge of  the prosecutor, however, the court rejected this petition. The  defense also asked the court to change the measure of restraint in  respect of Gagik Khachatryan for the health of the latter.

To recall, former super minister of finance and state revenues, the  richest official in Armenia, the beneficiary of many companies, Gagik  Khachatryan, was charged under paragraph 3 of part 2 of article 308  (abuse of office, entailing serious consequences by negligence),  paragraph 1 of part 3 of article 179 (assignment or embezzlement on  an especially large scale), clause 1 of part 3 of article 38-179,  clause 2 of part 4 of article 311 (bribe taking), clause 1 of part 3  of article 38-190 and part 1 of article 314 (official forgery) of the  RA Criminal Code.