Epress.am News from Armenia
The case involving local environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan vs. Republic of Armenia police took place at Yerevan’s Kentron (Center) and Nork Marash Administrative Court today.
Recall that Sukhudyan filed an appeal because Armenia’s police, specifically Chief of Police Alik Sarsgyan, violated her “presumption of innocence.” A criminal case was brought against Sukhudyan, who spoke up about abuse in a boarding school for children with special needs. She was accused of slander and “false betrayal,” by stating that Nubarashen No. 11 school teacher Levon Avakyan had sexually harassed the students.
Later, the court found Avakyan guilty and sentenced him to two years imprisonment.
Note that in today’s court session, the case was discussed in its preparatory phase and the court became acquainted with the details of the case.
Speaking to journalists after the session today, Sukhudyan recalled that prior to the court issuing a verdict in the Nubarashen case, RA Police Chief Alik Sargsyan, appearing on H1 Public TV, called Sukhudyan “a criminal.” The plaintiff also noted that head of Police Department on Public Relations Sayat Shirinyan, speaking about the written request by 20 NGOs in Sukhudyan’s defense, in a phone conversation with a journalist, had said: “This claim is toilet paper, she is a criminal, ay, you will come and kneel before the court, you will ask us to reduce the charges against the criminal.”
Sukhudyan was angry that her guilt not yet proven, the police chief and Shirinyan had made such incriminating statements.
“But in the preliminary stage, you don’t have a right to say that she is already a criminal and is accused of slandering or defaming minors; that is, he not only violated my presumed innocence, but also guided the preliminary investigation; that is a more serious issue, and that coming from the police chief. That’s why I decided to give a logical process to this case. This move is good for them too, because the police’s immunity has fallen drastically, and this is a good opportunity to raise this issue,” she said.
If her case isn’t resolved in Armenia, said Sukhudyan, she’s preparing to take it to the European court.
In the opinion of Sukhudyan’s attorney Liparit Simonyan, the court will make a fair decision.
Note that speaking for the defense, Gayane Gasparyan from the police, told journalists:
“The issue is about journalistic ethics because Sayat Shirinyan had a phone conversation with a journalist and was not informed whether [his comments] were going to be published or not. Within the framework of the case let me say that Sayat Shirinyan did not express an opinion on Mariam Sukhudyan’s guilt and didn’t provide an opinion on the claim presented by the NGOs supporting Mariam Sukhudyan.”
The next court session is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 11:30 am.