"YERKIR" UNION OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR REPATRIATION AND
SETTLEMENT
Press-release
Contact: Robert Tatoyan
Mobile: +(374 94) 36 17 93
E-mail: [email protected]
May 2, 2009
Yerevan, Armenia
THE FIRST COURT HEARING IN THE CASE OF REFUSAL TO REGISTER THE FRENCH LAWYER
PATRICK ARAPIAN WILL BE HELD IN TBILISI ON MAY 7, 2009
On May 7, 2009 the first hearing in the case of refusal by the Ministry of
Justice to register Patrick Arapian, a French lawyer and a member of the
Paris Bar, as a court defender of Javakheti political activist Vahagn
Chakhalyan will be held at Tbilisi City Court for Administrative Cases.
The Chakhalyans’ interest in this case will be represented by Nino
Andriashvili, a lawyer of the Georgian non-governmental organization "The
Human Rights Centre (HRIDC)" seeking to protect and promote human rights and
basic freedoms in Georgia.
On February 16, 2009, the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, without providing
any explanation refused to register Mr. Arapian as defender of Vahagn
Chahalyan in the ongoing trial. The Ombudsman of Georgia Sozar Subari, in
his letter addressed to the Minister of Justice Z. Adeishvili recommended
that the latter should restore the violated rights of the Chahalyans family
and allow the participation of the French lawyer, but the Georgian
authorities ignored this recommendation.
At the demonstrations in defense of Vahagn Chakhalyan that took place in
Paris on April 14 and 28, the Ambassador of Georgia to France Mamuka Kudava
received the organizers of the protest action and promised that the Georgian
authorities would give a positive solution to the question of registration
of Patrick Arapian.