Safaryan case: Judge expected to announce verdict on Friday
The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash districts is expected to announce a verdict in the case of civil activist Gevorg Safaryan at 5:55 p.m. The activist’s lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan has filed a petition to the court requesting to acquit Safaryan as he found the detention ungrounded. The lawyer also asked the court to review Safaryan’s restraint and release him on bail. Tigran Hayrapetyan today presented a document certifying that his client had lived on 9 Artashisyan in the past ten years and hence could not hide from the investigative body. Tigran Hayrapetyan also produced a recommendation by 11 lawmakers who ask the court to reconsider Safaryan’s preventive measure. Safaryan was detained during clashes between police and demonstrators at Liberty Square on New Year’s Eve. He was immediately charged with using violence against a government representative. In March, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun administrative districts upheld the motion of the investigative body to extend the detention of the civil activist for another 45 days. At the same time, the court rejected a defense motion to release Safaryan on bail. He has been in custody since December 31.
