Investigators seek criminal proceedings against opposition lawmaker for alleged pre-election crime

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Authorities have forwarded the criminal case against oppositionlawmaker Eduard Babayan from the Prosperous Armenia party for an alleged assault he committed back in 2018 before being elected to parliament to the prosecution for further proceedings.

Special Investigative Service spokesperson Marine Ohanjanyan told ARMENPRESS the criminal case that was launched against Babayan has been forwarded to the prosecutionwith a conclusion of guilt.

The incident allegedly took place in summer of 2018 when Babayan, who at the time served as head of Prosperous Armenia President Gagik Tsarukyan’s security detail, physically assaulted a man and inflicted injuries.

Babayan was charged and briefly detained and then released on a 20,000,000 dram bail. Months later he successfully ran for parliament.

Lawmakers have immunity and prosecuting them requires parliamentary approval.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan