Cassation court to examine complaint of HAK activists

The Cassation Court of Armenia has accepted today HAK activists’ cassational appeal for examination. The appeal was filed by a group of Armenian National Congress (HAK) activists, Aysor.am was informed by Arsen Babayan, the head of the RA Court Department’s press service.

We would remind you that following an incident with some policemen near the Khnko Aper Library in Yerevan on August 9, 2012, seven activists of HAK were taken to the Kentron police unit.

Six men were later released on their own recognizance, while the seventh activist, Tigran Arakelian is still in jail.

According to the policemen, the incident at the library started after they told one of the young men to muzzle his dog when taking it for a walk, whereas the HAK activists claim that the incident was triggered by provocative actions of the policemen.

Tigran Arakelian has been charged under the Criminal Code’s Article 258 Part 3 “Hooliganism” and Article 316 Part 2 “Violence against a representative of authorities”.

The prosecutor asked that the court sentence Arakelian to 6 years in prison, Artak Karapetian to 3.5 years in prison, and David Kiramijian and Sargsis Gevorgian – to two years in prison each.

The court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nor-Marash administrative districts ruled that T. Arakelian should be sentenced to 5 years in prison, Artak Karapetian to 3 years, and Sargis Gevorgian and David Kiramijian – to two years in prison each.

On November 11, 2012, the Court of Appeals rejected the HAK activists’ complaint and confirmed the abovementioned ruling of the general jurisdiction court.

A complaint was filed by the HAK activists to the RA Cassation Court on March 14.