Epress.am News from Armenia
Yerevan-based civic activist Vardges Gaspari was found guilty on Tuesday of insulting police officers and a judge, as well as of obstructing court hearings, and sentenced to a fine of AMD 450 thousand (about $940) by a Shengavit district court judge Nelly Baghdasaryan, who decided to increase the prosecution-demanded penalty amount by 50 thousand drams. Note, neither Gaspari nor his lawyers were present when the verdict was read.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Armenian Helsinki Committee head, human rights defender Michael Danielyan said that the rulings of Armenian courts should be considered “inadmissible” due to the country's “corrupt” legal system.
“The constant violation of the law by courts has became the norm in Armenia. We'll see the same thing at any Armenian court. Gaspari is fighting for his rights, and it irritates the courts due to them not being used to such attitude. Which, by the way, is the only right one,” Danielyan stated.
Note, the suit against Gaspari had been filed by three police employees who were insulted by the words "villain," "scoundrel," and criminal" that Gaspari had called them.