Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

On September 19, the RA Criminal Court of Appeals sent HCA Vanadzor lawyer Arayik Zalyan a notification of a court session which was to take place on September 18. Furthermore, the envelope was delivered to HCA Vanadzor by postal system on September 22, 4 days after the court session.

During the court session of September 18, 2018, the Appeal Court was to examine prosecutor A. Shahbazyan’s complaint against the acquittal of Arman Hovsepyan who was accused of giving false testimony against the Police.

Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction decided on the acquittal on July 18, 2018.

It is noteworthy that the notification was delivered to the post on the next day of the court session when it was already of no importance and it created the impression that on the one hand, the RA Criminal Court of Appeals simply adhered to a formal plan and on the other hand, hindered the participation of the defendant’s lawyer in the court session.

It should be noted that s court session notifications are often delivered to HCA Vanadzor with a delay, either after or on the day of the session and it is impossible to attend it in both cases. However, based on the dates mentioned on the notifications, we can assume that they were delivered to the post earlier, but for some reasons reached the addressee late.

In this case, however, there was even no imitation of notifying on time, as it is at least illogical to invite to a court session that had already taken place.