16:32, 20 May 2016

Court dismisses motion filed by Gevorg Safaryan's defence to withdraw judge

Gevorg Safaryan. Photo http://news.day.az/world/750053.html

Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, chairing the trial against activist Gevorg Safaryan, has refused to disqualify himself despite the motion filed by advocate Tigran Airapetyan.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on the New Year's Eve, in Freedom Square in Yerevan, a conflict occurred between public activists and the police. Gevorg Safaryan was detained. In March, his defence announced the completion of the investigation into his case. However, the Prosecutor's Office sent the criminal case back for further investigation. On May 2, the case was sent to the trial scheduled for May 20. Today, the defence of the defendant has accused the judge of bias and filed a motion for disqualification of the judge.

Earlier, the Yerevan activists have demanded from the authorities to release Gevorg Safaryan. So, on March 25, more than 30 people took part in a protest action held in front of the court building where the trial was considering the investigators' request to extend the arrest of the member of the "Constituent Parliament".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent