Armenia’s Human Rights Defender (HRD) today voiced concerns that police in the country are lax when it comes to transporting defendants in detention to the courts when their cases are being reviewed.

The HRD said the practice jeopardizes the rights of individuals to a fair trial and called on the government to intervene and resolve the matter despite the purchase of twenty-two new vehicles last year to get defendants to the courts.

The HRD gave the example of one defendant who alleged that he couldn’t attend four of seven court sessions within one year.

Another defendant claimed he was unable to attend any court session for a full two years.