15:06, 27 June 2017

Khandoyan, a "Sasna Tsrer" supporter, sentenced to 3.5 years in prison

Ararat Khandoyan (at the forefront). Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for "Caucasian Knot"

A Yerevan court has found Ararat Khandoyan as a participant in mass riots in Khorenatsi Street and guilty of using violence against policemen. Khandoyan himself found the judgement as predictable.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 25, the prosecutor demanded to sentence Khandoyan to four years in prison.

Ararat Khandoyan was detained on July 25, 2016, during the mass riots, when the building of the patrol police regiment was captured in Yerevan. He was accused of taking part in the mass riots and using violence against policemen. Araik Khandoyan, Ararat's brother, whose case was separated into a separate proceeding, together with the cases of 11 other members of the "Sasna Tsrer" regiment, was charged with capture of hostages and illegal storage of firearms.

Today, at the court session, Khandoyan told the court that his criminal case was "fabricated" and that the court is carrying out the authorities' political order.

He also called on to release all political prisoners, including the members of the "Sasna Tsrer" detachment.

Ara Karagezyan, an advocate, has noted that Khandoyan "received his verdict with applause."

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

Author: Armine Martirosyan, Tigran Petrosyan

Source: CK correspondents