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Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) of Armenia Arman Tatoyan visited Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan held in custody several days ago and is in touch with his attorneys, he said today. “Mr Alumyan [ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s lawyer] applied to me publicly and later we met and discussed the matter. As arranged, Mr. Alumyan will present the concerns of the defense team in writing. After examining those materials, I will be able to comment whether those issues are within our authorities,” Tatoyan told reporters at a briefing.

The Ombudsman next informed that given the concerns voiced by the ex-president’s lawyers he visited Kocharyan days ago. “My only role at this stage relates to the conditions of detention. There were no complaints about detention,” Tatoyan added.

Tatoyan next declined to give details of the private conversation with Kocharyan citing law restrictions. “The only thing I would say the complaints are the same that are publicly voiced by the defense team members,” said Tatoyan.

To remind, the Yerevan Court of Appeals ruled on June 25 to arrest ex-president Robert Kocharyan, granting the prosecutors’ appeals against a lower court’s decisions to release Kocharyan from custody. He is charged with overthrowing Armenia’s constitutional order during the March 1-2, 2008 post-election events in Yerevan. The former president and his defense team strongly deny any wrongdoing.