Epress.am News from Armenia
Police officers named as victims in the case of political activist Shant Harutyunyan and his friends continued to be questioned in court today. The first three victims, according to the court, were questioned in previous court hearings. Yerevan Deputy Police Chief Valeriy Osipyan (pictured) named as the fourth victim in the case was to have been examined in court today; however, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, starting the court session 40 minutes late, invited Police Colonel Khachik Avetisyan, named as the fifth victim in the case, to court.
The judge provided no explanation why Osipyan, who directed the actions of police on November 5, 2013, did not appear in court. Note, at previous court sessions, Shant Harutyunyan asked the court to question Osipyan first, since ahead of the march, he had a private conversation with him, and Harutyunyan believes this fact is important in the consideration of the case.
Recall, Shant Harutyunyan and his supporters were arrested on November 5, 2013, in Yerevan, at the start of an anti-government march. They are accused of "hooliganism" involving weapons or objects used as weapons. Several local human rights activists and international organizations consider the men political prisoners.