The European Court of Human Rights obliged Armenia to pay an oppositional activist a compensation of 31 thousand euros

According to a verdict of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Armenia must pay a compensation of 31 thousand euros to oppositional activist Grigor Virabyan for torture he underwent from the police and violation of his right of fair trial.

Representatives of Armenian National Congress told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that ECtHR guided by clauses 3 and 5 of "European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights" obliged Armenia to pay 6 thousand euros compensation of legal costs and 25 thousand euros as compensation of moral damage for torture and discrimination.

Virabyan, in his turn, declared that the purpose of his appeal the ECtHR was not getting financial compensation but "calling to account the policemen who disabled him and the judges who demonstrated discriminating attitude towards him and in fact deprived him of a right of fair trial".

It should be mentioned that during meetings and demonstrations of April, 2004, member of oppositional National party of Armenia Grigor Virabyan was seized by the policemen, beaten up violently and became disabled as a result.

At the same time, Virabyan was accused of using force against policeman Ovik Movsisyan. After preliminary investigation that lasted several months Public prosecutor's office stopped criminal proceedings against Virabyan under the pressure of international organizations. Later he left Armenia for Belgium where he received political asylum.

It should be reminded that this year two ex-political prisoners, Vardan Malkhasyan and Zhirair Sefilyan, won cases against Armenia in ECtHR.