25 May 2018, 04:29
Yerevan court refuses to prolong Salman Sever's arrest
In Yerevan, the court refused to extend the arrest of Bogdan Kalyussky, also known as blogger Salman Sever. On May 30, he will be released, reported rights defender Arthur Sakunts, the head of the Vanadzor Office of the Helsinki Civil Assembly.
Yerevan court arrested Salman Sever (known in Russia under the name of Maxim Baidak) for two months on suspicion of forging documents and crossing the Armenian border illegally. Rights defenders from five countries called on the Armenian authorities to release Salman Sever and prevent his extradition to Russia, where the activist might be subjected to torture.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 23, it became known that Salman Sever got a refugee status in Armenia.
In the evening on May 24, the court examined an investigator's request for an extension of the Salman Sever's arrest, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by rights defender Arthur Sakunts.
He has noted that the term of judicial sanction for Bogdan Kalyussky's arrest expires on May 30 and the investigator, according to the law, has filed a request to the court to extend the arrest for other two months.
"The defence has objected to the groundlessness of detention in custody. The court pronounced the decision to change the pre-trial restriction measure and release our client on bail of one million drams (about 2100 US dollars). Until May 30, the defence will stand bail to the court, and on the day of expiration of the arrest Bogdan Kalyussky will be released," the rights defender stated.
The extradition of the blogger to Russia is not in question, Arthur Sakunts has added.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Tigran Petrosyan Source: CK correspondent
