Epress.am News from Armenia
Imprisoned journalist, chief editor of local daily Haykakan Jamanak (“Armenian Times”) Nikol Pashinyan’s suit against Kosh penitentiary took place today in Artik penitentiary, where Pashinyan is serving his sentence. Pashinayn asked the administrative court to overrule a Sept. 28, 2010 decision made by Kosh prison chief to subject him to a penalty.
In today’s court session, Pashinyan asked that his attorney be involved in this case.
Judge Robert Sargsyan sustained Pashinyan’s motion, noting that the parties will be informed of the next court date.
Prior to issuing the ruling, the judge prohibited journalists and media from photographing or filming the court session. Tied to this issue is Pashinyan’s motion to the judge to permit filming and photographing, noting that the judge is restricting the trial’s being public.
Nevertheless, the judge ruled against this motion and permitted journalists only to record audio during the session.
As told to Epress.am by Haykakan Jamanak reporter Vahagn Hovakimyan, Pashinyan was also not permitted to have contact with journalists prior to the session today.
“Today they brought us into the courtroom late. And when we entered, we saw that Nikol Pashinyan and the judge were already there. Just as we entered, the hearing began. I consider that a minor [form of] deception, what they did, so that Nikol is deprived of the opportunity to have contact with journalists and to make any statements,” he said.
In 2009, Pashinyan, an opposition activist and staunch backer of Armenian National Congress (HAK) leader Levon Ter-Petrossian, was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for his role in the “mass disturbances” that followed disputed presidential elections in Feb. and Mar. 2008 that left 10 people dead. A general amnesty declared later by the Armenian authorities means that he will serve only half this sentence. Both he and HAK consider the case politically motivated.