Today, the examination of appeal of Marina Poghosyan, President of “Veles” non-governmental organisation, the representative of David Stepanyan, was completed at the First Instance Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts. Poghosyan had lodged an appeal against the dismissal of the criminal case.

Note that last year a criminal case was instituted based on David Stepanyan’s application under Article 137 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (“Threat of murder, of causing grave harm to health or of property destruction”). Stepanyan had submitted also  a recording to investigative bodies, where it is heard how Yeritsyan, former Head of Civil Aviation, threatens him by saying that in case of failure to return the money to him “blood will be spilled”.

Pursuant to the materials of the Case, Hovhannes Yeritsyan had given USD 900.000 to David Stepanyan with a monthly interest rate of 2%. According to Stepanyan’s version, he had been paying monthly interest in the amount of USD 18.000 for ten years, and when he was no more able to pay, Yeritsyan began to threaten him.

The criminal case was dismissed even though no face-to-face interrogation was conducted between Stepanyan and Yeritsyan. Marina Poghosyan stated in the court that the case was incompletely examined.

Prosecutor Narek Khachatryan objected to the appeal considering it to be unjustified. Though Khachatryan mentioned that the recording might not be considered to be evidence, as Yeritsyan was not informed of being recorded, nevertheless he referred to its content.

“The expression “blood will be spilled” is heard in the recording, which is not addressed to David Stepanyan by Hovhannes Yeritsyan. Basically he recalls another person. There was no direct murder threat”: thinks the prosecutor.

Marina Poghosyan objected by mentioning that if there were no threats Stepanyan would not be obliged to leave Armenia with his family.

Today, the judge published the decision thereof, which satisfied the appeal lodged by the President of “Veles” NGO.  Actually, the court admitted that the examination was carried out incompletely, and rendered a decision on eliminating the decision on dismissing the case.

P.S. During the last three years two criminal cases have been filed against Marina Poghosyan who was defending David Stepanyan’s rights in the court. One of the cases was dismissed and the examination of the other two cases is pending  in the court of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts. Poghosyan was asked whether the status of being an accused-on-trial did not obstacle her to defend the rights of citizens in other cases. “Firstly, being an accused-on-trial is a status, while being a human rights defender is a state of mind. Besides, if filing a criminal case against me by them was aimed at muzzling me or breaking into out time, so as we could not defend the rights of other people, I should say they failed to meet their targets. Of course, we continue defending the rights of our clients and will keep on being engaged in human right defending activities to the bitter end”: said Marina Poghosyan.

Material by Arman Gharibyan

http://www.1in.am/2106710.html