Prosecutor General denies pressuring Harutyunyan, highlights witness protection

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan says there is a need to develop the institution of witness protection in Armenia.

He said the Criminal Procedures Code has envisaged for many years protection and security measures, but no mechanisms were in place. “Numerous difficulties emerged in practice,” he told reporters.

“Currently a legislative package is there, and we hope that as a result the protection measures will be utilized, clear mechanisms will exist, the material technical base will be ensured,” Davtyan said.

Davtyan was speaking about the issue in relation to ex-police chief Hayk Harutyunyan’sdeath.

Journalists noted that Harutyunyan was a witness in the ongoing March 1 investigation, and asked about the safety and protection of other witnesses, namely Grigor Grigoryan aka The Sheriff, Harutyunyan’s deputy in 2008.

“The bodies carrying out respective intelligence actions must follow, take actions envisaged by law, to reveal any pressures if these were to happen against anyone,” Davtyan said.

Davtyan was also asked about an article published in the press which alleged that he has pressured Harutyunyan into giving false testimonies. Davtyan denied the information.

“Anyone who knows me knows that this is impossible, the Prosecutor General’s position doesn’t allow this legally or morally”.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan