European Court Rejects Former Finance Minister’s Request for Interim Measures
STRASBOURG — The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on September 24 rejected a request submitted by the legal team of Gagik Khachatryan, former chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee and former finance minister, seeking interim measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court.
Khachatryan had applied to the ECHR requesting that it order the Armenian government to lift his pretrial detention and refrain from imposing any restrictions on his liberty. He also asked the Court to order an end to the practice of transporting him on a stretcher, ensure the effective exercise of his right to receive medical care, lift the travel restriction imposed on him, and allow him to travel to the Federal Republic of Germany for medical treatment.
In response to an inquiry from Armenpress, the Office of the Representative of Armenia on International Legal Matters said the ECHR had communicated the request to the Armenian government, posed relevant questions to the parties, and provided them with an opportunity to submit their respective positions.
“After receiving the responses submitted by the Office of the Representative on International Legal Matters and the applicant, the ECHR decided to reject Gagik Khachatryan’s request for interim measures in its entirety. Accordingly, the Court found no need to apply interim measures in connection with the requests submitted under Rule 39 of the Rules of Court,” the office stated.
Former State Revenue Committee Chairman Gagik Khachatryan is a defendant in criminal proceedings involving allegations of accepting bribes on an especially large scale and money laundering on an especially large scale. As part of the investigation, urgent investigative and procedural actions were carried out at Khachatryan’s residence, his son’s residence, as well as at the offices and branches of approximately 21 companies affiliated with them.
Khachatryan was arrested on September 1. Armenia’s Investigative Committee subsequently filed a motion with the court seeking his detention, which was granted on September 2.
