02:20, 24 June 2014

In Armenia, advocates of participants of "Million Mask March" demand transparent trial

Arrested organizer of ‘Million Mask March’ Shant Arutyunyan in the court, Yerevan, June 12, 2014. Photo by Armine Martirosyan for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

In Yerevan, advocates of the defendants in the case against Shant Arutyunyan, the leader of the "Tsegakron" Party, and other participants of the "Million Mask March" held on November 5, 2013, who are accused of hooliganism, require the court to ensure the transparency of the trial against the activist. The defenders believe that the courtroom provided for the trial fails to ensure conditions for effective work. This was reported by the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"The police made serious preparations to impede holding the open court sessions. I myself was late for several minutes, and I hardly managed to get into the courtroom," Inessa Petrosyan, the Shant Arutyunyan's advocate, has said at the press conference held on June 23.

On June 12, the court session was held behind closed doors. According to Inessa Petrosyan, in the yard, "police units created an impenetrable barrier and did not allow anyone to enter the courtroom."

The Shant Arutyunyan's advocate believes that is done to ensure that not all media representatives could attend the trial and to avoid giving much publicity to the case.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent