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Environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan v. Armenia's Police
Epress.am (http://www.epress.am/FNew.aspx?nid=7543)
Nov. 1, 2010
The case involving local environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan
vs. Republic of Armenia police took place at Yerevan's Kentron
(Center) and Nork Marash Administrative Court today.
Recall that Sukhudyan filed an appeal because Armenia's police,
specifically Chief of Police Alik Sarsgyan, violated her "presumption
of innocence." A criminal case was brought against Sukhudyan, who
spoke up about abuse in a boarding school for children with special
needs. She was accused of slander and "false betrayal," by stating
that Nubarashen No. 11 school teacher Levon Avakyan had sexually
harassed the students.
Later, the court found Avakyan guilty and sentenced him to two years
imprisonment.
Note that in today's court session, the case was discussed in its
preparatory phase and the court became acquainted with the details of
the case.
Speaking to journalists after the session today, Sukhudyan recalled
that prior to the court issuing a verdict in the Nubarashen case, RA
Police Chief Alik Sargsyan, appearing on H1 Public TV, called
Sukhudyan "a criminal." The plaintiff also noted that head of Police
Department on Public Relations Sayat Shirinyan, speaking about the
written request by 20 NGOs in Sukhudyan's defense, in a phone
conversation with a journalist, had said: "This claim is toilet paper,
she is a criminal, ay, you will come and kneel before the court, you
will ask us to reduce the charges against the criminal."
Sukhudyan was angry that her guilt not yet proven, the police chief
and Shirinyan had made such incriminating statements.
"But in the preliminary stage, you don't have a right to say that she
is already a criminal and is accused of slandering or defaming minors;
that is, he not only violated my presumed innocence, but also guided
the preliminary investigation; that is a more serious issue, and that
coming from the police chief. That's why I decided to give a logical
process to this case. This move is good for them too, because the
police's immunity has fallen drastically, and this is a good
opportunity to raise this issue," she said.
If her case isn't resolved in Armenia, said Sukhudyan, she's preparing
to take it to the European court.
In the opinion of Sukhudyan's attorney Liparit Simonyan, the court
will make a fair decision.
Note that speaking for the defense, Gayane Gasparyan from the police,
told journalists:
"The issue is about journalistic ethics because Sayat Shirinyan had a
phone conversation with a journalist and was not informed whether [his
comments] were going to be published or not. Within the framework of
the case let me say that Sayat Shirinyan did not express an opinion on
Mariam Sukhudyan's guilt and didn't provide an opinion on the claim
presented by the NGOs supporting Mariam Sukhudyan."
The next court session is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 11:30 am.
From: A. Papazian
Epress.am (http://www.epress.am/FNew.aspx?nid=7543)
Nov. 1, 2010
The case involving local environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan
vs. Republic of Armenia police took place at Yerevan's Kentron
(Center) and Nork Marash Administrative Court today.
Recall that Sukhudyan filed an appeal because Armenia's police,
specifically Chief of Police Alik Sarsgyan, violated her "presumption
of innocence." A criminal case was brought against Sukhudyan, who
spoke up about abuse in a boarding school for children with special
needs. She was accused of slander and "false betrayal," by stating
that Nubarashen No. 11 school teacher Levon Avakyan had sexually
harassed the students.
Later, the court found Avakyan guilty and sentenced him to two years
imprisonment.
Note that in today's court session, the case was discussed in its
preparatory phase and the court became acquainted with the details of
the case.
Speaking to journalists after the session today, Sukhudyan recalled
that prior to the court issuing a verdict in the Nubarashen case, RA
Police Chief Alik Sargsyan, appearing on H1 Public TV, called
Sukhudyan "a criminal." The plaintiff also noted that head of Police
Department on Public Relations Sayat Shirinyan, speaking about the
written request by 20 NGOs in Sukhudyan's defense, in a phone
conversation with a journalist, had said: "This claim is toilet paper,
she is a criminal, ay, you will come and kneel before the court, you
will ask us to reduce the charges against the criminal."
Sukhudyan was angry that her guilt not yet proven, the police chief
and Shirinyan had made such incriminating statements.
"But in the preliminary stage, you don't have a right to say that she
is already a criminal and is accused of slandering or defaming minors;
that is, he not only violated my presumed innocence, but also guided
the preliminary investigation; that is a more serious issue, and that
coming from the police chief. That's why I decided to give a logical
process to this case. This move is good for them too, because the
police's immunity has fallen drastically, and this is a good
opportunity to raise this issue," she said.
If her case isn't resolved in Armenia, said Sukhudyan, she's preparing
to take it to the European court.
In the opinion of Sukhudyan's attorney Liparit Simonyan, the court
will make a fair decision.
Note that speaking for the defense, Gayane Gasparyan from the police,
told journalists:
"The issue is about journalistic ethics because Sayat Shirinyan had a
phone conversation with a journalist and was not informed whether [his
comments] were going to be published or not. Within the framework of
the case let me say that Sayat Shirinyan did not express an opinion on
Mariam Sukhudyan's guilt and didn't provide an opinion on the claim
presented by the NGOs supporting Mariam Sukhudyan."
The next court session is scheduled for Dec. 15 at 11:30 am.
From: A. Papazian