Epress.am News from Armenia
Armenia's Court of Appeal refused Friday a request to grant pretrial release to Gevorg Safaryan, a key member of New Armenia opposition alliance who was arrested on New Year's Eve and has since been held in custody in Yerevan's Nubarashen prison for allegedly assaulting and injuring a law enforcement officer.
A number of New Armenia members held a protest action shortly after the issuance of the verdict outside the courthouse and egged the building in protest of the decision. Protester Gagik Yeghiazaryan has been detained as result of a police intervention.
Recall, Gevorg Safaryan was detained by Armenian police on New Year’s Eve after a scuffle with law enforcement officers on Yerevan’s Freedom Square. He subsequently went on several hunger strikes protesting against unsafe prison conditions and demanding a transfer to an individual cell.