Opposition Activist in Court Claims He is Target of Hate Crime

Karo Yeghnukyan, a participant of the demonstrations protesting the demolition and reconstruction of the historic Covered Market on Mashtots Ave., at the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative Districts today again asked presiding Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan to recuse himself, arguing that investigation of his complaint is delayed because of the other party.

Yeghnukyan is disputing inaction on the part of the RA General Prosecutor's office. The activist contacted the state prosecution, asking that criminal proceedings be filed against those preaching hate against him. He is referring to those who pasted a poster with Yeghnukyan's photo on the wall of the Covered Market owned by Republican Party of Armenia MP, oligarch Samvel Aleksanyan. The poster reads: "Mason: No to opposition for hire, no to foreign spies, no to 'grant-takers'. You are against the creation of 700 jobs".

At the last court hearing, Yeghnukyan asked the prosecution to show what actions it had taken concerning his complaint. As told to Epress.am by Yeghnukyan, the prosecution today did not respond, simply restating Yeghnukyan's complaint.

"I know when I appealed and what I wrote in my appeal. I am asking that they present what they have done, that they have not yet launched a criminal case," he said.

Today's court hearing was postponed because Judge Mnatsakanyan gave time to the responding party to present the required documents. Mnatsakanyan rejected the motion to recuse himself. 

Note, according to Yeghnukyan, he is a target of hate crime, which is proven by the two attacks against him after the poster was put up. Recall, the tires of Yeghnukyan’s car were slashed on Oct. 15, 2013, during a protest outside Yerevan City supermarket on Komitas Ave. in Yerevan. Furthermore, on several occasions unidentified vehicles followed Yeghnukyan and members of his family.