Armenia justice minister not commenting on verdict handed down to activist
14:25, 18.10.2014
While speaking with reporters on Saturday, Armenian Minister of
Justice Hovhannes Manukyan did not make any comments on the court
ruling that was handed down in the case into the events that occurred
in capital city Yerevan on November 5, 2013.
“For the moment, I will refrain from giving any evaluation because
this judicial act is not [yet] in legal force. In all likelihood, this
court decision will be appealed at the Court of Cassation,” Manukyan
told reporters.
Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Jurisdiction Court on Friday
found guilty–and primarily on charges of hooliganism–the thirteen
defendants in the aforementioned case, and handed down prison
sentences ranging between one and seven years. Activist Shant
Harutyunyan, who had organized the demonstration on November 5, was
sentenced to six years in prison.
The United National Initiative leader and activist Shant Harutyunyan
who had announced about starting a revolution, on November 5, 2013–and
with close to one hundred supporters wearing Guy Fawkes “Anonymous
masks”–had started a march toward the Presidential Palace, but the
police had stopped the march.
As a result, there was a scuffle and explosions, and the police
detained 38 activists. As a result of the melee, sixteen people,
including eight police officers, were injured. Subsequently, criminal
charges were laid against fourteen people, including Harutyunyan and
his 15-year-old son.
From: Baghdasarian