Upon hearing word that Judge Mirzoyan ordered the Police Department’s Department of Passports and Visas to grant her client the necessary 5 year residency notice in order that he could run in an upcoming parliamentary by-election, attorney Lusineh Sahakyan proclaimed, “Now we must get all outstanding charges against Nikol Pashinyan dropped.” Attorney Sahakyan told reporters that while she had a feeling that the judge might enact such a decision, it still came as somewhat of a surprise. “I don’t know how to explain the judge’s action. But if it means that the rule of law is slowly being honored in Armenia than the next logical step is to have Nikol Pashinyan cleared of all the charges he faces.” Mr. Pashinyan’s other defense attorney, Davit Matevosyan, commented that the decision actually was reached at 26 Baghramyan Street, where the presidential palace is located. “I also want to see a link with the criminal case against Pashinyan. Yesterday, the prosecutor stated that he would not call the other 25 witnesses in the case to testify. All this means that something’s afoot in the country,” said Mr. Matevosyan, adding that the HAK (Armenian National Congress) must immediately mobilize its forces and ensure Pashinyan’s victory in the 10th parliamentary district. Mr. Matevosyan said all the paperwork was in order to register Pashinyan’s candidacy and that they were only waiting for the residency notice from OVIR in Ijevan. “I don’t think that making one more trip to Ijevan will be a problem. One could go to Siberia and back to help Nikol out,” the attorney said.