Armenian parliament speaker asked to allow opposition MP's prosecution

Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan has asked National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan to greenlight the prosecution of Seyran Ohanyan, a senior MP from the opposition Hayastan faction and a former defense minister.

The chief prosecutor submitted three motions to the speaker, also attaching to them a draft parliament decision to allow the launch of criminal proceedings against Ohanyan.

The former defense minister stands accused of misuse of office, failure to perform his official duties, which led to “grave consequences” and large-scale misappropriation.

According to Article 96 of the Constitution, criminal prosecution may be opened against an MP only by the consent of the National Assembly.

Seyran Ohanyan served as Armenia’s defense minister in 2008-2016.