The Armenian National Assembly voted 87-0 to allow MP Gagik Tsarukyan to be arrested.
Earlier today the Parliament voted to strip Leader of Prosperous Armenia faction Gagik Tsarukyan of parliamentary immunity, making his arrest imminent and allowing for prosecution to begin. The decisions were made through secret ballot. A total of 87 MPs cast their votes. Two opposition factions – Prosperous Armenia and Bright Armenia – did not participate in the voting.
The motions were filed a day after Gagik Tsarukyan’s home was searched by the National Security Service. He was later summoned to the NSS for questioning. The National Security Service has since published four statements on cases involving Gagik Tsarukyan and the Prosperous Armenia Party. The man who is considered the wealthiest person in Armenia was then questioned for nine hours.According to the Security Service, a casino belonging to Tsarukyan has caused AMD 30 billion ($62 million) in damages to the state, while his party, Prosperous Armenia, handed out hundreds of millions of drams in election bribes in 2017.
Speaking at the National Assembly sitting earlier today Tsarukyan said the charges against him had been fabricated. He believes the process is a response to his June 5th speech, in which he called on the government to resign. Gagik Tsarukyan refrained from answering questions and said he was going to the National Security Service.
Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan had earlier sent two motions to National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan, asking for consent to launching criminal prosecution against the MP and depriving him of his freedom.
H/T Public Radio Of Armenia & PanArmenian
