Tweet
THE HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ADMITS THEORETICALLY THAT THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS (ANC) ACTIVISTS' RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED (RECORDING)
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/11/13/129799/
NOVEMBER 13, 2012 15:41
In response to our question whether it was a violation of the law
that the ANC activists had been deprived of their last pleas and
the counselors of the possibility to make their defense speeches
in the Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday, Karen Andreasyan, the
Human Rights Defender of Armenia, said, "Yes, it is a violation of
the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 6 of the European Convention
on Human Rights."
However, he also stressed that in accordance with the law, the Human
Rights Defender couldn't make comments on the ANC activists' case,
until the verdict on the case entered into force, "I don't know what
happened in the court yesterday, but anything could have happened in
our current legal system and in our current court.
"At the same time, the law provides for my keeping silent, if the case
is under the court's consideration. Admittedly, the verdict was made
public today, but it hasn't entered into force and until the verdict
on that case has entered into force, I don't have the right to make
any comments - the law strictly forbids me.
"However, I can generally say that not listening to a motion without a
reason or not offering an opportunity to exercise procedural rights or
to express viewpoints - these are serious violations of the law. And
I can theoretically answer that yes, it is a serious violation; it
can have an impact on the outcome of the case and be dangerous not
only for exercising justice, but also for perception.
"I repeat once again I cannot make any comment on this particular
case." Let us remind that eight motions made by the ANC activists'
counselor yesterday were denied.
Listen to the full interview with Karen Andreasyan on the recording.
Arphine Simonyan
From: Baghdasarian
http://www.aravot.am/en/2012/11/13/129799/
NOVEMBER 13, 2012 15:41
In response to our question whether it was a violation of the law
that the ANC activists had been deprived of their last pleas and
the counselors of the possibility to make their defense speeches
in the Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday, Karen Andreasyan, the
Human Rights Defender of Armenia, said, "Yes, it is a violation of
the Criminal Procedure Code and Article 6 of the European Convention
on Human Rights."
However, he also stressed that in accordance with the law, the Human
Rights Defender couldn't make comments on the ANC activists' case,
until the verdict on the case entered into force, "I don't know what
happened in the court yesterday, but anything could have happened in
our current legal system and in our current court.
"At the same time, the law provides for my keeping silent, if the case
is under the court's consideration. Admittedly, the verdict was made
public today, but it hasn't entered into force and until the verdict
on that case has entered into force, I don't have the right to make
any comments - the law strictly forbids me.
"However, I can generally say that not listening to a motion without a
reason or not offering an opportunity to exercise procedural rights or
to express viewpoints - these are serious violations of the law. And
I can theoretically answer that yes, it is a serious violation; it
can have an impact on the outcome of the case and be dangerous not
only for exercising justice, but also for perception.
"I repeat once again I cannot make any comment on this particular
case." Let us remind that eight motions made by the ANC activists'
counselor yesterday were denied.
Listen to the full interview with Karen Andreasyan on the recording.
Arphine Simonyan
From: Baghdasarian