Epress.am News from Armenia
Helsinki Citizens' Assembly (HCA) Vanadzor Office President Artur Sakunts appeal against a lower court ruling in the case against Hayoc Artsivner ("Armenian Eagles") NGO President Khachik Asryan for threats he made to MP Zaruhi Postanjyan (pictured) and her relatives on May 5 resumed in the RA Criminal Court of Appeal, reports the HCA Vanadzor Office [AM].
Note, the lower court rejected the demand to reverse the decision of Special investigation Service inspector M. Babayan not to initiate criminal proceedings.
The last court session was postponed to ensure the participation of a representative of the RA General Prosecutor's Office and the body that conducted proceedings at the trial. At Monday's court session, however, representatives of the RA Special Investigation Service and RA General Prosecutor's Office were again absent. They sent notices to the court, requesting to continue the trial in their absence.
Sakunts deemed this to be a disrespectful attitude toward the judicial system and made a motion that they should present to the court clear grounds of being otherwise occupied. Presiding Judge Karine Ghazaryan rejected the motion, considering that there is sufficient evidence in the case to issue a ruling. Judge Ghazaryan went to the consultation room, and minutes later, the verdict was announced. Sakunts' appeal was denied and the lower court ruling sustained.
Recall, Asryan had said: "Zaruhi Postanjyan should be burned alive at the stake not as a Joan of Arc but as a Ramil Safarov." Later, Asryan said he meant not Postanjyan, but her deed, referring to Postanjyan's question to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.