Armenia: Tracking the controversial trial of captors of a police station
Paris-Erevan. In the beginning of December 2017, or six months after the trials opened against members of the armed group "Sasna Tsrer", the prosecution started indicting the accused of serious crimes, including murder, hostage taking, illegal acquisition and illegal possession of arms. Up to date, the process was protracted due to a series of sanctions against defendants and their lawyers and constant postponing of case examination. Moreover, lawyers had denounced allegedly discriminatory security check-up procedures at court entrance and held two strikes that were largely supported by lawyers across the country. Finally, up to date, the investigation into ill-treatment of four defendants that took place on 28 June 2017 has not brought any results, contributing to erosion of public trust in the judicial process in Armenia.
FIDH and its member organisation in Armenia, Civil Society Institute, publish today a joint situation note detailing the problems with judicial proceedings against 32 members of the armed group since the trials started on June 8 and June 10, 2017. It provides the Armenian authorities with concrete recommendations to improve justice administration consistent with the principles of the fair trial and equality before the law.