Opposition Youth Activists’ Trial Again Postponed Because Defense Attorney Was Not Present

The trial of opposition youth activists Tigran Araqelyan, Sargis Gevorgyan, David Kiramijyan and Artak Karapetyan resumed today at the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan.

Recall, on Aug. 9, seven Armenian National Congress (HAK) youth, among them those named above, were detained after an incident with police near Yerevan’s Swan Lake. The next day they were arrested, while four — Areg and Vahagn Gevorgyan, David Kiramijyan and Sahak Muradyan — were released on Aug. 12 and then two more — Artak Karapetyan and Sargis Gevorgyan — were released later. The only one still detained was Tigran Araqelyan.

Araqelyan and Artak Karapetyan are charged with violence against a representative of the authorities, while Areg Gevorgyan, Sahak Muradyan, David Kiramijyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and Vahagn Gevorgyan are charged with hooliganism.

In their testimonies during the preliminary investigation, the accused said they were subject to abuse and violence by police officials.

Stepan Voskanyan, the attorney representing all the defendants except for Tigran Araqelyan, was absent from court today. Recall, on Dec. 8, it was Araqelyan’s attorney, Vahe Grigoryan, who was absent.

As no one was able to get a hold of him, the judge decided to postpone the trial to Dec. 27 at 12 pm.

Note, just as with the previous court session, this one too was held in a small courtroom and police officers, journalists, family and friends barely fit in the room with some people standing.

Gathered near the doors of the court today were Armenian National Congress activists who held in their hands placards demanding Tigran Araqelyan’s immediate release.