Trial over a Claim to “Abolish Filing a Criminal Case” Continues

On August 5, 2011, the Lori Region Court of Common Jurisdiction continued hearing the claim of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor to rescind the resolution made by the interrogator who objected to file a criminal case over restricting drivers holding Georgian state license plates from freedom of movement by the law enforcement bodies. 

The trial, presided by Judge M. Melkonyan, was attended by plaintiff Artur Sakunts, Head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor, and responding party Prosecutor, A. Poghosyan from the Lori Region General Prosecutor’s Office. Although interrogator V. Martirosyan from the Lori Region Investigation Department had been properly notified about the date and the location, he did not attend the trial.  The prosecutor informed the court that the interrogator was in Yerevan attending to private affaires.

During the trial Artur Sakunts presented his claim to rescind the interrogator’s resolution not to file a criminal case and also submitted a motion to attach the letter of “Armenian Road Directorate” (ARD) SNCO addressed to “Azparez” Journalist’s Club NGO as evidence, which states that “from February 10th through the 18th, 2011 the roads in Shirak and Lori regions were not blocked”.

The prosecutor objected to the submitted motion.   A. Sakunts filed a motion to present photos and video tapes to the court room. The Judge satisfied the motion and the court trial was adjourned so that the interrogator could get acquainted with the new evidence documents.