Epress.am News from Armenia
The court case of Armenian National Congress (HAK) youth activists Sargis Gevorgyan and David Kiramijyan continued today at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron (Center) and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts.
Recall that 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.”
In Gevorgyan’s testimony today, he said that on May 31, he, along with a few HAK youth activists, wanted to stroll through Freedom Square; however, police officers not only didn’t permit them to enter the square, but also assaulted them. He also noted that he hadn’t ripped officer Arkadi Baghdasaryan’s epaulet, as the latter had said in his testimony.
Later, prosecutor Harutyun Harutyunyan began to examine Gevorgyan on the stand. He attempted to prove that the HAK youth activists had participated in a mass public demonstration, in which more than 100 people were present.
Gevorgyan said those accusations were false, and that there were less than 100 people in the aforementioned location on May 31. He also noted that the group did not engage in any unlawful activities. Gevorgyan, who apparently considered the prosecutor’s demeanor to be aggressive, asked him to ask questions in a “calm tone” and explain the nature of the accusation.
Asked by the prosecutor after returning to Saryan’s statue why didn’t they leave the area, Gevorgyan said:
“We didn’t return; by pushing and pulling us, the police took us to Saryan’s statue. And they said, ‘We gave you Saryan, get by [with it].’ And even if we wanted to, we couldn’t leave the area, since the area was surrounded by police officers,” said Gevorgyan.
Gevorgyan’s time on the stand concluded today; the next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 12 at 4 pm, during which time Kiramijyan’s testimony will be heard.