According to information of the official website of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association, on 6 August the Board of the Association circulated a statement in connection of the criminal case against the advocate Arshavir Khalapyan. The text of the statement reads:
Statement in Connection with the Criminal Case against the Advocate Arshavir Khalapyan.
On 2 August 2014, the human rights activist and advocate Arshavir Khalapyan was arrested in the framework of the criminal case initiated with a charge of commercial bribery. On 5 August the Court of general Jurisdiction of Syunik marz met the petition to apply arrest as a restraint against Arshavir Khalapyan, at the same time applying bail of 1.000.000 AMD.
Restraints are enforced measures, which are applied against the suspect or the accused during the criminal proceedings to prevent their improper behavior and to ensure imposition of sentence. The body conducting criminal proceedings selects in the order provided by law such mean of restraint against the suspect or the accused, which shall exclude the possibility of violence or other crime, and takes a reasoned decision.
“The Armenian Young Lawyers Association” Non Governmental Organization considers that applying arrest as measure of restraint against Arshavir Khalapyan is not justified and is not aimed to ensuring fair trial of the case.
The criminal case on the fact was initiated about two months ago. During this period advocate Arshavir Khalapyan did not hinder the investigation of the trial in any way, and did not demonstrate improper behavior. Accordingly, applying arrest as measure of restraint against advocate Arshavir Khalapyan is not justified and is not aimed to ensure fair trial of the case and thus confirms the defective practice of satisfying petitions to apply arrest as a rule, which takes place in Armenia.
Arshavir Khalapyan is known among the public and his colleagues as a professional with high moral values and principle human rights activist and advocate.
Considering the character of the case, as well as the circumstance of violation that have taken place during the preliminary inquiry of the case referring to informing the President of the Chamber of Advocates of the RA about the arrest of the advocate, “The Armenian Young Lawyers Association” Non Governmental Organization urges the law enforcement bodies to conduct a complete, objective and thorough investigation to ensure all principles of procedural criminal law.
Board of the Armenian Young Lawyers Association
Yerevan, 06.08.2014
