Money Laundering: Is Armenia Fulfilling its International Obligations?

[ 15 March, 2010 | 14:10 ]

29 year-old Mariam Harutyunyan, who sells women’s jeans and clothing accessories in s store called “Fashion Time” was charged with credit card fraud back in February 2009 after an investigation by the RoA National Security Service. She was indicted with using fake bank cards to withdraw and then launder large sums of cash from automated teller machines in Armenia. »»»»»


Despite Legal Document, Family to Be Evicted Tomorrow

[ 15 March, 2010 | 13:25 ]

Tomorrow, bailiffs from the Compulsory Enforcement Service are scheduled to evict the family of Anna Pamboukhchyan form their house on Nor Aresh Street.

What happened is that Sonia Tovmasyan, who resides in the U.S., filed a court suit claiming that her brother’s wife, Anna, had illegally taken possession of the house. The court ruled in favour of Tovmasyan. »»»»»


Court to Review Teghut Lawsuit on March 23

[ 12 March, 2010 | 17:40 ]

Attorney Hayk Alumyan has told Hetq that on March 23, the RoA Administrative Court will review the suit drafted by a group of environmental organizations seeking to halt mining in the Teghut forest.

The court had refused to hear the suit, arguing the plaintiffs were professionally not suitable to argue the merits of the case. The court partially reversed its decision and has only allowed the group “EcoDar” to act as plaintiff.


Court Concludes MP Postanjyan’s Slander Appeal

[ 11 March, 2010 | 13:23 ]

The appeal hearing brought by Heritage Party MP Zaruhi Postanjyan, seeking to overturn a district investigator’s decision to drop slander charges against the newspaper “Azatamtutyun”, wrapped up today at the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court.

MP Postanjyan is appealing the decision of Central District Investigator Ashot Mkhitaryan to drop slander charges against the newspaper. Investigator Mkhitaryan found that the newspaper’s reporters had merely presented their evaluation of MP Postanjyan’s professional activities and that they had no intention of defaming her. »»»»»


Appeals Court Upholds Pashinyan Verdict but Cuts Sentence in Half

[ 9 March, 2010 | 11:22 ]

Minutes ago, the Court of Appeals handed down its verdict upholding the 7 years sentence passed by a lower court against “Haykakan Zhamanak” editor  and political opposition activist Nikol Pashinyan.

In accordance with the general amnesty provisions adopted by the Armenian Parliament last year, the court also decided to cut Pashinyan’s sentence in half.


Judge Orders “Yerevan Brandy” to Hand Over Financial Report

[ 4 March, 2010 | 16:30 ]

At today’s trial session in the on-going legal battle between the German firm “Ostinvestor” and Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Ararat Brandy and Wine”, Judge Melkumyan sustained the motion of “Ostinvestor” to have Yerevan Brandy Company hand over company documents regarding the valuation of 50% of stock owned by “Brandy Bridge. »»»»»


Appeals Court Rejects Recusal Motion by Pashinyan’s Lawyer

[ 3 March, 2010 | 12:25 ]

Mother of slain Karabakh freedom-fighter rips up photo of President Sargsyan in court

At today’s appeals proceeding to review the case of jailed Haykakan Zhamanak editor Nikol Pashinyan, defense lawyer Lusineh Sahakyan introduced a motion calling for the three judge panel to recuse itself, arguing that they were prejudiced. After a fifteen minute recess, the court denied the motion. »»»»»


Bribery Trial of Ministry Officials Postponed; Witnesses a

[ 2 March, 2010 | 15:04 ]

The trial of two top former officials in the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection on bribery charges, was cancelled today. None the six subpoenaed witness or the Prosecuting Attorney showed up at the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court.

The two officials, Tigran Grigoryan, who headed the Ministry’s Environmental Inspectorate, and Arsen Petrosyan, his deputy, have been indicted for demanding a 400,000 AMD bribe from Vardan Aslanyan, Director of “Delta Fragment”, a firm that operates a clay and basalt mine. The bribe was to cover up certain environmental violations and to cut the penalties to be paid. »»»»»


Access Denied? Many Claim European Court Reforms Actually Restrictive

[ 1 March, 2010 | 16:24 ]

After Interlaken ECHR Will Resemble Kafka’s “The Castle”

On February 18-19, in the Swiss city of Interlaken, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers met to devise ways to reform the overburdened European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). A joint declaration was issued setting the course for the future reform of the ECHR. »»»»»


Court Pardons Father Found Guilty of Assaulting Daughter

[ 26 February, 2010 | 15:01 ]

Sasha Davtyan, a resident of the Katnaghbyur village in Aragatzotn, had his 4 year sentence for physically abusing his daughter reduced to three years today by the Criminal Court of Appeals. After delivering the sentence, Judge M. Rehanyan freed Davtyan under the amnesty statutes passed by the RoA National Assembly.

Mr. Davtyan had been arrested in May, 2009, and charged with raping one of his daughters and physically assaulting the other. In December, the Aragatzotn District Court dropped the rape charge and sentenced him to four years on the assault charge.


Ostinvestor vs. Yerevan Brandy Trial Postponed

[ 23 February, 2010 | 15:17 ]

Today’s trial session, scheduled for the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court, in the on-going Ostinvestor legal suit against Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Yerevan Ararat Brandy” company was postponed.

The cause for the postponement was that Davit Mantashyan, the legal representative for Yerevan Brandy had never gotten around to providing company documents to Ostinvestor, the plaintiff, prior to today, as obligated. Mr. Mantashyan stated in court that Yerevan Brandy had only supplied him with the documents on February 19 and that he had been busy relocating his office. »»»»»


Public Domain for Private Gain? “Teghut, CJSC” Gets Land Cheap

[ 22 February, 2010 | 16:14 ]

Vardanyan Family in Lori Cries Foul; Seek Redress in European Court

Vardan Vardanyan, a resident of the village of Shnogh, Lori Marz, has applied to the European Court of Human Rights. He is seeking financial and moral compensation for loses he claims the family has suffered after land was taken from them.

 The land in question was the only source of income for the family of five. »»»»»


Court Rejects “Radio Hye” Suit Against MP Safaryan

[ 16 February, 2010 | 12:46 ]

The Avan and Nor-Nork District Court yesterday rejected the suit filed by Radio Hye demanding that MP Stepan Safaryan issue a public retraction of his assertion that the station broadcast a program at the behest of President Sargsyan or his staff.

 The program, “Armenian Reflections”, had dealt with the Karabakh conflict settlement issue and devolved into a series of accusations from both sides of the debate in the pages of the press.


“Ostinvestor” v Gagik Tsarukyan: German Firm Files Suit to Recapture Shares in “Yerevan Ararat Brandy”

[ 1 February, 2010 | 17:20 ]

20_07-konyakOn January 29, the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court is scheduled to examine the suit that the German portfolio investment firm “Ostinvestor” has filed against Gagik Tsarukyan’s “Yerevan Ararat Brandy”.

“Ostinvestor”, a German portfolio investment firm, claims that Tsarukyan, who heads the Prosperous Armenia Party, illegally obtained the shares through a questionable stock consolidation deal. It wants to get the shares back. »»»»»


Young Activist Seeks Vindication in Court of Cassation

[ 26 January, 2010 | 14:22 ]

Vahagn Gevorgyan, an 18 year-old activist with the group “Hima”, has petitioned the Armenian Court of Cassation to rescind the verdicts of the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court and the Court of Appeals, which found him guilty of “verbally insulting and physically assaulting” government representatives.

Mr. Gevorgyan had been sentenced to a year in jail and a fine of 80,000 AMD. He was later pardoned under the provisions of the general amnesty initiated by the Armenian parliament. Despite the pardon, the young activist has stated that he is innocent of all charges and wants the court to overturn the lower court’s verdict. »»»»»