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Tigran Araqelyan: Getting an Acquittal is a Matter of Principle
10.11.2013 22:03 epress.am
The prosecuting attorney at the Court of Appeal continues to argue
that the Armenian National Congress (HAK) activists are guilty. Tigran
Araqelyan gave presiding Judge Eva Darbinyan a copy of the Criminal
Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.
Recall, Araqelyan has been sentenced to six years in prison (two of
which he has already served in pre-trial detention) for allegedly
attacking officers near Swan Lake in central Yerevan in August 2011.
Three other HAK activists - Artak Karapetyan, Sargis Gevorgyan, and
David Kiramijyan - were also charged; however, they were released
pending trial.
Closing remarks were heard in court today. The last person to speak
were the defendants, their attorney Stepan Voskanyan, and prosecuting
attorney Hakob Martirosyan.
The activists and their attorney demanded a fair ruling, since,
according to them, it was proven during the appeals stage that the
charges were fabricated.
The defense attorney noted that although there were violations also in
the appeals court proceedings, the evidence heard is enough to prove
the lack of corpus delicti and that the defendents must be absolved of
guilt.
The defendant David Kiramijyan also demanded to launch criminal
proceedings against police officer Shahen Harutyunyan, named as a
victim in the case, for lying in court.
The prosecuting attorney, Martirosyan, in his closing remarks noted
that he was opposed to appealing the case and believes that the
defendants' guilt is proven. In his remarks he cited accused Artak
Karapetyan's testimony in which he said that on the day of the
incident they approached the police and a citizen, which Karapetyan
asked to be recorded as a witness. Referring to the law, the attorney
noted that witnesses are not recorded on a volunteer basis; such
requests must be submitted to the police.
The prosecutor opined that one of the causes of the altercation
between activists and the police was that the latter called the HAK
activists "Levonakan" [a term given to supporters of HAK, whose leader
is Levon Ter-Petrossian], but, he said, there was nothing offensive in
the term. Martirosyan petitioned to release Karapetyan under amnesty,
while asking for probation for Kiramijyan. Recall, the prosecutor
asked for probation for Kiramijyan also in the lower court, but Judge
Gagik Poghosyan assigned a heavier penalty - two years in prison.
In his closing remarks Tigran Araqelyan said being acquitted (instead
of being released under amnesty) is a matter of principle. "I will
find freedom only in a fair ruling," he said, before presenting the
judge with the Criminal Procedure Code.
The verdict will be made public on Monday.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/11/tigran-araqelyan-getting-an-acquittal-is-a-matter-of-principle.html
10.11.2013 22:03 epress.am
The prosecuting attorney at the Court of Appeal continues to argue
that the Armenian National Congress (HAK) activists are guilty. Tigran
Araqelyan gave presiding Judge Eva Darbinyan a copy of the Criminal
Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.
Recall, Araqelyan has been sentenced to six years in prison (two of
which he has already served in pre-trial detention) for allegedly
attacking officers near Swan Lake in central Yerevan in August 2011.
Three other HAK activists - Artak Karapetyan, Sargis Gevorgyan, and
David Kiramijyan - were also charged; however, they were released
pending trial.
Closing remarks were heard in court today. The last person to speak
were the defendants, their attorney Stepan Voskanyan, and prosecuting
attorney Hakob Martirosyan.
The activists and their attorney demanded a fair ruling, since,
according to them, it was proven during the appeals stage that the
charges were fabricated.
The defense attorney noted that although there were violations also in
the appeals court proceedings, the evidence heard is enough to prove
the lack of corpus delicti and that the defendents must be absolved of
guilt.
The defendant David Kiramijyan also demanded to launch criminal
proceedings against police officer Shahen Harutyunyan, named as a
victim in the case, for lying in court.
The prosecuting attorney, Martirosyan, in his closing remarks noted
that he was opposed to appealing the case and believes that the
defendants' guilt is proven. In his remarks he cited accused Artak
Karapetyan's testimony in which he said that on the day of the
incident they approached the police and a citizen, which Karapetyan
asked to be recorded as a witness. Referring to the law, the attorney
noted that witnesses are not recorded on a volunteer basis; such
requests must be submitted to the police.
The prosecutor opined that one of the causes of the altercation
between activists and the police was that the latter called the HAK
activists "Levonakan" [a term given to supporters of HAK, whose leader
is Levon Ter-Petrossian], but, he said, there was nothing offensive in
the term. Martirosyan petitioned to release Karapetyan under amnesty,
while asking for probation for Kiramijyan. Recall, the prosecutor
asked for probation for Kiramijyan also in the lower court, but Judge
Gagik Poghosyan assigned a heavier penalty - two years in prison.
In his closing remarks Tigran Araqelyan said being acquitted (instead
of being released under amnesty) is a matter of principle. "I will
find freedom only in a fair ruling," he said, before presenting the
judge with the Criminal Procedure Code.
The verdict will be made public on Monday.
http://www.epress.am/en/2013/10/11/tigran-araqelyan-getting-an-acquittal-is-a-matter-of-principle.html