I Didn’t Realize Such Ignorance Reigns at the SIS: Opposition Activist’s Case Postponed

The Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan headed by Judge Grisha Melik-Sargsyan today heard the case of Armenian National Congress (HAK) activist Vardges Gaspari vs. Armenia’s Special Investigative Service (SIS). According to Gaspari, during a Nov. 12 opposition demonstration outside the RA General Prosecutor’s Office, police pushed him and he fell. So he decided to sue.

Gaspari told Epress.am the trial has been postponed by 20 days.

“I presented to the judge all the procedural violations related to the case.For instance, I say the start and end time of interrogation by officers is not noted. The judge addressed the SIS representative and, it seems, the latter also wasn’t informed that there’s a regulation according to the criminal code. Then the judge addressed me, asking me to present all those laws in which I identify violations. I asked for time to present these and the trial was postponed,” described the plaintiff.

Gaspari added, he was quite surprised that such ignorance reigns at the SIS.

“I couldn’t imagine that they were so ignorant, but it’s more unfortunate that we can’t throw out such weak and ignorant [individuals].”