Court rejects petition to change V. Petrosyan measure of restraint

The Kotayk regional court of general jurisdiction held today a hearing of the case of the road accident, in which famous comedian Vardan Petrosyan was involved. The accident took place on Yeghvard-Yerevan Highway on October 20, 2013.

Petrosyan’s French lawyer Marie Dose filed a petition asking to change Petrosyan’s measure of restraint – arrest.

She said in her speech that Vardan Petrosyan’s measure of restraint violates the presumption of innocence principle and contradicts the provisions of the European Convention and the European Court of Human Rights.

“At the March 31 sitting you forced me to keep silent as the translation of Article 83 of Armenian Criminal Code was not done. We were extremely demanding about that detail,” Marie Dose said.

Advancing arguments for her petition, the lawyer said that Vardan Petrosyan was not convicted in the past and he has no opportunity to leave Armenia.

As regards the aggrieved party’s allegations that the actor was under the influence of alcohol, the lawyer reminded those present that according to the case materials, V, Petrosyan is not accused of driving under influence as the case facts prove the opposite.

‘The aggrieved party does not want to give up the version about driving under influence because without it the case amounts to nothing,” the lawyer said.

Marie Dose’s speech drew tumultuous applause, due to which Judge Vaghinak Mkrtchyan had to warn those present not to applaud in court.

The lawyer of the aggrieved party Ruben Baloyan, speaking about the filed petition, said it is not clear to him whether it was a petition or an objection or a defense speech for some educational purpose.

In his words, Vardan Petrosyan could be found not guilty only in case that the brakes of his car failed to work.

The prosecutor also said in his speech that the possibility of V. Petrosyan’s putting pressure on the victims and the probability of his departure from Armenia gave grounds for his arrest.

The Kotayk general jurisdiction court took a decision to reject the petition asking to change the measure of restraint of Vardan Petrosyan who thus will remain in custody. The next court hearing is on May 30.