Shant Harutyunyan to Undergo Psychiatric Assessment: Former Attorney

Head of the nationalist Tseghakron political party Shant Harutyunyan, who was arrested on Nov. 5, has refused the services of a public defender, intending to carry out his own defense in court, said attorney Garik Malkhasyan, who earlier was assigned as Harutyunyan's public defender, to local news site News.am.

Malkhasyan said Harutyunyan has been assigned a psychiatric examination to determine whether he has mental health issues or not.

Recall, Harutyunyan and several of his supporters were arrested on Nov. 5 during an anti-government protest. Opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan and human rights activist Artur Sakunts have since visited the veteran political activist in prison, who claims he was subjected to violence by RA Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan while in custody.