16 September 2017, 04:27
Session on Sefilyan’s case accompanied by protest
The Armenian Women's Front has held a protest action in front of the courthouse, where Zhirair Sefilyan, the leader of the movement "100 Years without Regime", is tried.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that sessions Sefilyan's case were repeatedly disrupted because of advocates’ protests against searching them at the courthouse entrance; while the defendants were many times removed from the courtroom for their contempt of the court. Now, the presence in the courtroom of advocate Marina Tovmasyan, appointed as Sefilyan’s state defender, was a formal reason to start the session after a series of disrupted ones.
In June 2016, Zhirair Sefilyan was detained on the charge of organizing illegal transportation and storage of weapons. In November, investigators charged him with preparations for seizure of a building. Meanwhile, in May 2015, a case was instituted against Zhirair Sefilyan and four members of the opposition "Constituent Parliament" for plotting mass riots.
On September 15, activists brought to the courthouse dummies of the judge and state defender appointed to Sefilyan and Pogosyan, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.
The protesters met Ms Tovmasyan at the entrance to the courthouse with cries "Shame!"
September 15 was the end of sanctions applied by the judge to defendants Zhirair Sefilyan, Gevorg Safaryan, Nerses Pogosyan, Grair Topchyan and Sasunik Kirakosyan. Let us remind you that they were removed from the trial for their contempt of the court: they did not stand up when the judge entered the courtroom.
However, sanctions were applied again: Judge Tatevik Grigoryan removed Zhirair Sefilyan and Gevorg Safaryan from the courtroom, because Safaryan refused to stand up at her entrance, while Sefilyan did not stand up when addressing the judge.
Tigran Airapetyan, a Sefilyan's advocate, has stated that he, too, is forced to leave the session, because of his client’s removal.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Armine Martirosyan Source: CK correspondent
