In Armenia, 545 persons take part in lawyers' strike

On June 11, in Yerevan, 545 out of 1152 registered lawyers announced a day of one-day strike to protest against the activities of the Court of Cassation. This was reported today by officials of special group of the Bar Association of Armenia.

On June 5, the lawyers announced their intention to hold a protest action. At that date, about 100 lawyers declared their participation in the strike. As of June 10, already more than 400 lawyers declared their intention to join the strike.

The special group of the Bar Association, including Ara Zograbyan, Gevorg Gezalyan, Karen Mezhlumyan, Aik Alumyan, and Lusine Saakyan, presented at the today's conference to their colleagues and journalists the specific cases, in the course of which gross violations committed by the Court of Cassation were revealed.

According to the lawyer Ara Zograbyan, not only lawyers, but also officials, including Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, negatively evaluate the activity of the judicial system of the country.

According to the special group of the Bar Association, since 2008, there is no single government regulation recognized invalid by the Administrative Court. In 2011, the courts of first instance of criminal cases completely acquitted only 54 persons. In the same year, 1203 appeals on criminal cases were filed, and only 45 out of which were taken in judicial proceedings and 28 were granted. The lawyers demanded that the Court of Cassation when considering the issue to take a case in judicial proceedings to maintain records on a mandatory basis and in case of refusal to give a clear explanation of such decision.

The lawyers have prepared an appeal addressed to the Chair of the Court of Cassation, with copies to President Serzh Sargsyan, the Minister of Justice, and the Chief of the Constitutional Court, in which they demand to start discussions on the problem in the judicial system of Armenia.

"In case of neglect, the lawyers will go to more drastic steps, such as a two-day strike or a hunger strike, since this is done for clients," the strike participants stated.

Panel of Judges has characterized the strike of lawyers as "illegal", since the Labour Code states that the organizations without trade unions can announce a strike only at the request of at least two-thirds of the employees.