Armenia: trial on "Case of Seven" postponed till April 1

In Armenia, the court has satisfied the petition lodged by Koryun Piloyan, a representative of the prosecution, who referred to not yet enacted amendments to Articles 225 and 300 of the Criminal Code, under which the figurants in the "Case of Seven" were charged, and postponed the court session till April 1.

The prosecutor has indicated the necessity to make additions in the indictment because of changed legislation. As a whole, the political prisoners have agreed with the court decision, however, ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexander Arzumanyan has addressed the chairing judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan.

"Close our case, change the freedom restriction measure and release us immediately: there are no crime attributes in the articles of our indictment. Later, you can study the case, try to find new attributes and move a new accusation," said Mr Arzumanyan, whose opinion was supported by other defendants in the "Case of Seven".

Vardui Elbakyan, one of the advocates, told journalists that first the freedom restriction measure should be changed, and only then the court should consider the changes made in the articles.

"I assume that they'll try again to illegally accuse the guys under point 1 of Article 225 as organizers of mass disorders. However, the sanctions are softer than before amendments, but during this period our clients will have no access to advocates. In general, I link this decision of the court and behaviour of our authorities with the forthcoming these days interim report of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: the authorities want to show that they've done something on the 'Case of Seven'," Ms Elbakyan has stated.