In Armenia, case of participants of "Million Mask March" sent to court

The General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Armenia has reported that the case of Shant Arutyunyan, the leader of the "Tsegakron" Party, and other participants of the action that took place on November 5, 2013, in Yerevan, accused of hooliganism, was sent to the court. Defendants' relatives are sure that the case is politically motivated.

The day of the trial is not officially appointed; however, according to the law, the first session must be held within 25 days after the delivery of the case to the court, Inessa Petrosyan, an advocate for Shant Arutyunyan, has explained the situation to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

The family of Vage Mkrtchyan, a participant of the action, is in a difficult financial situation, said Margarita Stepanyan, Vage's wife; therefore his interests are defended by a public advocate.

According to Shoger Akopyan, the wife of one of the defendants, Armen Ovannisyan, the investigation was held with numerous violations. According to her story, at each session dedicated to extension of the custody, the judge performed "the role of a notary, who just certified the petition of the investigator."

She also noted that the extension of detainees' custody "is clearly contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms."