Epress.am News from Armenia
At the Court of First Instance of Yerevan’s Kentron (Center) and Nork- Marash Districts, the trial of Armenian National Congress youth David Kiramijyan and Sargis Gevorgyan took place today.
Kiramijyan has been accused of “hooliganism” under Article 258 Section 1 Point 3 of Armenia’s Criminal Code, while Gevorgyan is being charged under Article 316 Section 1 for “violence against a representative of the authorities.”
As previously reported, the accused were attempting to stroll through Freedom (or Liberty) Square on May 31, when police officers detained them, along with 15 others (including 3 journalists), and took them in for questioning.
During the trial today, police officer Arkadi Baghdasaryan, one of the injured parties in this case, took the stand, along with 3 other witnesses from the same police division.
During his testimony, Baghdasaryan said that they detained Kiramijyan for hooliganism; however, he found it difficult to recall any particular episode, while in Gevorgyan’s case, the officer said that the accused tore his shoulder strap. Only one of the other witnesses, Arsen Grigoryan, confirmed this fact.
The witnesses insisted that the youth swore at them; however, when asked by the defense what exactly was stated, they were unable to answer, instead saying that there were over 100 people present during the skirmish who were loud and it was difficult to hear anything clearly.
During the trial, certain contradictory statements were heard. The witnesses largely denied the fact that a struggle took place between police officers and civilians; however, the last witness, Arzuman Sofanyan, who had detained Kiramijyan, during his testimony said that they “were clearing the way by pushing and shoving, so they could take David [Kiramijyan].”
The other injured party in the case, Varzdat Tadevosyan, along with witnesses Lusine Tadevosyan, Lilit Gevorgyan and Ruben Ayvazyan, weren’t present during today’s trial. The prosecution thus petitioned to subpoena them and hear their testimonies. The next trial was scheduled for September 9 at 3 pm.