Prosecutor-General asks parliament to strip two MPs of immunity

Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetyan has officially asked parliament to approve the initiation of criminal proceedings against two Members of Parliament.

Vardapetyan presented the motions to MPs on Friday.

The criminal case pertains to opposition Hayastan faction MPs Seyran Ohanyan and Artsvik Minasyan.

According to prosecutors, Ohanyan, a former defense minister, allegedly unlawfully acquired plot of land and built a house in the village of Drakhtik near Lake Sevan, an area designated as a nature reserve, when he was serving as minister.  He is facing money laundering and abuse of power charges.  

Minasyan, a former minister of environment, is accused of abuse of power for allegedly greenlighting Ohanyan's illegal acquisition of the land while in office as Cabinet minister. 

Both opposition factions, Hayastan and Pativ Unem, boycotted the parliament session.

The two lawmakers have denied the charges.