In Armenia, CoA dismisses motion of Arakelyan's defence to release him from custody

The Court of Appeal (CoA) of Armenia has again dismissed the motion filed by the defence of Tigran Arakelyan, an activist of the youth wing of the "Armenian National Congress" (ANC) to change his freedom restriction measure into recognizance not to leave.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 5, the CoA started the court hearings on the case against Tigran Arakelyan, Artak Karapetyan, David Kiramidjyan, and Sarkis Gevorkyan, activists of the ANC, who were sentenced for disorderly conduct and rendering resistance to policemen. Three activists are at large under recognizance not to leave, and Tigran Arakelyan is kept in custody.

At the today's court session, Stepan Voskanyan, the defender of Tigran Arakelyan kept in custody, has again filed to the court a motion to change the restriction measure to his client. The advocate has attached to the motion the statement made by MPs from four opposition factions the ANC, the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF), also known as Dashnaktsutyun, the "Heritage", and the "Prosperous Armenia", with demand to the authorities for the immediate release of the political prisoner.

Today, Tigran Arakelyan himself has stated that he had been sentenced on false testimony of a policeman, who during the conflict of August 9, 2011, was about 300 meters away from the place of conflict.

The next court session in the case against the activists of the ANC is scheduled for September 18.