Epress.am News from Armenia
Nerses Poghosyan, one of the suspects arrested as part of the Armenian law enforcement forces’ investigation into the alleged takeover plot initiated by New Armenia and Founding Parliament opposition movements’ leading member Zhirayr Sefilyan, has been on hunger strike since December 15 with a demand to be released on his own recognizance or on bail, Arayik Papikyan, a lawyer for Poghosyan, told Epress.am on Thursday.
“The investigative body did not even file an official court motion to extend Poghosyan’s detention; they just submitted their demand in some writ, and the court granted it. This is a violation of the code of criminal procedure; we challenged the decision in the Appeal Court, but the challenge was denied, so no we intend to go to the Court of Cassation. If the appeal is denied at the Cassation Court as well, we will turn to the European Court of Human Rights,” Papikyan said.
Note, Poghosyan, along with Sefilyan and 7 other suspects, was charged with article 235.2 of the Armenian Criminal Code (illegal purchase, transportation or carrying of weapons, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices, committed by a group with prior agreement).
According to Papikyan, however, Poghosyan denies all charges brought against him; “He has been an active participant of political and social protest actions and demonstrations since 2006. It’s possible that he is being persecuted for his [anti-government] activities.”