Cassation appeal on Shant Harutyunyan's case dismissed
The Court of Cassation dismissed an appeal lodged by the lawyers of Shant Harutyunyan, leader of the radical opposition Tseghakron party, and his friends. The appeal filed in February 2015 requested the Court to review the ruling of a lower court that found Shant Harutyunyan, his underage son Shahen Harutyunyan and ten other activists who also participated in the November 5, 2013 anti-government protest, guilty of acts of hooliganism and sentenced them from 1 to 7 years in prison. The decision comes into force from the date of adoption, is final and not subject to appeal. Harutyunyan was detained on November 5, 2013 as he attempted to head to the Presidential Office together with a group of supporters to ‘blow up the building’ as he had earlier stated. He faced charges over using violence against a representative of the authorities (Article 316.2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia). Later, police investigators dropped the accusation carrying between 5 and 10 years in prison and charged Harutyunyan with hooliganism. The lawyers filed a motion to acquit the group or remand the case to the Court of First Instance for review.
