Epress.am News from Armenia
Shirak’s Court of General Jurisdiction held a closed hearing on the cruel murder of 57-year-old Julieta Ghazaryan on December 2 and made a decision to warrant the arrest of the Russian military serviceman.
The Union of Informed Citizens made an announcement that the serviceman is held at the Military base N 102 in violation of a number of Armenia-Russia bilateral agreements.
Epress.am was unable to find out whether the serviceman was present at the court hearing. In response to our telephone call, the Court staff responded that the hearing was closed and no information could be disclosed. They referred us to the Judicial Department, where we were told that the Department does not have any information.
In a conversation with Epress.am, lawyer Harutyun Baghdasaryan has stated that a number of violations are already in place. If the Russian serviceman is held at the premises of the Russian military base and a court hearing has been held without his presence, than this is a violation of Article 5 of the European Human Rights Convention. This means, that for the arrest, the suspect needs to be taken to the court.
Baghdasaryan mentions that the Armenian law enforcement bodies need to handle the Russian serviceman’s case as the criminal offense took place in the territory of Armenia, outside the premises of the Russian Military Base and therefore is a crime against the Republic of Armenia. “As the pretrial investigation is held the Armenian prosecution authority, this already means that the trial shall be held by the Armenian court as well and only after the ruling of the court can the defendant be extradited to the country of his citizenship to carry his sentence.”