Gevorg Safaryan to remain in custody (video)
Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan has rejected a petition filed by the lawyer of civil activist Gevorg Safaryan who asked the court to review the preventive measure of the activist or release him on bail. Since it was the end of the working day, the judge decided to adjourn the case hearing until June 1. When Gevorg Safaryan was brought into the hall, people began to applaud, chanted "Gevorg", "Gevorg!" 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.
