Court dismisses appeal against Zhirair Sefilyan's arrest

The Court of Appeal has upheld the decision of the court on the arrest of Armenian activist Zhirair Sefilyan, suspected of the organization of illicit trafficking in arms.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 20, it became known about the arrest of Zhirair Sefilyan on suspicion of illegal transportation and storage of weapons. According to the advocate, Zhirair Sefilyan has refused to testify and associates his detention with his oppositional activities. The activist's defence has announced the intention to appeal against the arrest.

On July 7, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal filed against the Zhirair Sefilyan's arrest. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Ara Zakaryan, an advocate of the activist.

According to the advocate, the court hearing took place in the absence of the suspect and his advocate, since the beginning of the court hearing was delayed. "After waiting for more than an hour and not having the information about whether the court hearing on the consideration of the appeal would take place or not," the defender did not wait for the start of the court hearing in protest.

"By law, the Court was to postpone the court hearing," noted Ara Zakaryan.

The advocate has explained that the defence "anticipated such a decision from the Court of Appeal." According to the advocate, since the arrest of Zhirair Sefilyan, no investigative measures have been conducted, except for a confrontation with one of the defendants in the case, who pointed to Zhirair Sefilyan.

"We intend to go through all the instances of the Armenian judicial system and to challenge the Zhirair Sefilyan's arrest at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)," emphasized the advocate.

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