On 28 June, the trial in the case of Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan, her assistant Tamara Petrosyan and Lawyer Erik Aleksanyan was continued in the Anti-Corruption Court.

On 17 October, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Council approved the petitions of the General Prosecutor’s Office regarding the initiation of criminal prosecution against Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan and provided consent to deprivation of liberty. Within the framework of the same case, the lawyer Erik Aleksanyan was also charged under Article 46-441 of the Criminal Code, that is, he assisted an official in abusing office or official powers or the influence caused by them or exceeding the powers. In the framework of this case, Arusyak Aleksanyan’s assistant Tamara Petrosyan was also charged.

The defendants do not accept the charges against them.

According to Iravaban.net at the beginning of the session, presiding judge Vahe Dolmazyan announced that the court received 2 applications, and both regarding Arusyak Aleksanyan. In the first application, lawyer Liana Brsoyan asked for permission to visit the defendant, who has the legal status of a victim in another case. “Liana Brsoyan is my authorized representative, I confirm the application. Please allow the lawyer to enter the “Abovyan” penitentiary so that she can provide appropriate legal assistance.”

The judge granted this request. The 2nd application was submitted by the defendant herself. She requested the court to provide information regarding the number and schedule of detention cases in Vahe Dolmazyan’s proceedings. The defendant believes that hearings should be scheduled more often, and that hearings should be scheduled more frequently if the judge discusses custody. The judge noted that the court has no obligation to provide clarification to anyone regarding the schedule of cases before it. “Regarding the mentioned issue, you can apply to the Judicial Department. In addition, court sessions are generally scheduled as a result of discussing the workload with the trial participants in the courtroom.”

Arusyak Aleksanyan announced that when the court is discussing the issue of detention, sessions are scheduled on a daily basis, and after the decision to extend the detention, the sessions are scheduled at an interval of 1 month and 20 days. “You say that the court has no obligation to clarify. The judge has an obligation because he is a public official and is accountable to the citizens, especially the accused. We will apply to the Judicial Department.”

She also mentioned that she still hasn’t received the 14 June decision of the court, by which the detention period of Arusyak Aleksanyan was extended by 3 months. “This is not the first case.”

According to the defendant, the judge was obliged to issue the decision within 3 days, so that she would not be deprived of the opportunity to appeal. Vahe Dolmazyan reported that the decision was sent to the penitentiary on 23 June.

Arusyak Aleksanyan also announced in the court that she wanted to make a very urgent statement. It refers to the report about the crime presented by her during one of the previous court sessions. During the court session on 1 June, she gave such information. “One of the judges of the Anti-Corruption Chamber of the Court of Cassation, Sergey Chichoyan, is one of the main characters in one of my internal viewing episodes. He called me and expressed his indignation and anger because I did not arrest a person in one of the famous cases. Of course, the NSS did not provide me with that internal viewing episode. If Sergey Chichoyan were a little bit honest, instead of rejecting our complaints in an intensive way, he would at least resign.”

Today, she mentioned that during these 28 days, nothing was done regarding the report she presented. “Until now, no investigator has visited “Abovyan” Penitentiary and questioned me about it.”

The judge noted that public prosecutor Armen Gevorgyan asked the court to provide him with a copy of the recording of that court session in order to present it to the body conducting the proceedings.

The prosecutor added that it was handed over to the pre-investigative body, besides; the investigator independently decides the sequence of investigative actions.

The court session lasted quite short; the defendant Erik Aleksanyan was busy with another case. The next court hearing was scheduled for 7 July.

Yevgenya Hambardzumyan