Epress.am News from Armenia
Head of Yerevan's Arabkir Administrative District Hrayr Antonyan today prohibited lawyer Ani Torosyan from participating in the session of the District Commission of Trusteeship and Custodianship. Speaking to Epress.am, Torosyan said she represents the interests of citizen Anna Khlghatyan who has gone to court seeking full custody of her two minor sons. A District Head-led expert committee made up of pedagogs and psychologists has to draw a conclusion on the matter after holding meetings with the children and their parents.
“I tried for about 15 minutes to explain to them that [not allowing me in] was a gross violation of my client’s rights, and that they were hindering my ability to carry out my professional activities as a lawyer. However, honorable Mr. Antonyan announced ‘that’s how it’s supposed to be’ since [according to him] 'lawyers destroy families,' and they have decided to no longer allow lawyers to participate in the committee's sessions,” Ani Torosyan stated.
The interviewee stressed that she has witnessed other lawyers also not be allowed to take part in similar meetings; meanwhile, she added, such problems never occurred in other commissions. “Basically, my client has been deprived of her right to receive legal advice during the session,” Torosyan said.
The attorney stated her intention to report the incident to Armenia's Chamber of Advocates.