17:54, 11 October 2013

Armenia: defence petitions for termination of prosecution of ANC activists

At the today's debate session of the trial of four young opposition activists of the Armenian National Congress (ANC), the floor was given to the defendants, their advocates and the prosecutor. Stepan Voskanyan, one of the advocates, moved a petition to terminate the criminal proceedings against his clients due to the absence of corpus delicti.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 20, 2012, the activists of the ANC Tigran Arakelyan, Artak Karapetyan, David Kiramijyan and Sarkis Gevorgyan were sentenced to prison terms ranging from two to six years.

Mr Voskanyan said that Tigran Arakelyan fully meets the criteria and standards for a recognized political prisoner, listed in the resolution adopted last October by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). He also reminded that "all vague allegations and materials shall be treated, according to the law, in favour of the defendants."

The next session of the court is scheduled for October 14, where the sentencing is expected.

Let us note here that the court sessions take place at the background of regular protest actions. One of the latest of them was held on October 4 in Yerevan.

Author: Lilit Ovanisyan

Source: CK correspondent