Shant Harutyunyan Trial: Colonel Khachatur Avetisyan testifies in court
A court in Yerevan today continued the hearing in the case of political activist Shant Harutyunyan, who was arrested last November in connection with an anti-government march in Yerevan, and the other 13 people detained after they had resorted to a political rebellion as an act of desperation. Colonel Khachatur Avetisyan today testified in court. He said he had not been injured on the day of the incident: he had had breathing problems and his eyes hurt after the explosives were blown up but he did not see a doctor. Khachatur Avetisyan added that he only knew Shant Harutyunyan, who, as he had already told media representatives, attempted a coup. Shant Harutyunyan was arrested on November 5 as he attempted to head to the Presidential Office together with a group of supporters to ‘blow up the building’ as he had earlier stated. He was immediately charged under Article 316.2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia ((violence against a representative of the authorities that is dangerous for life or health). However, in April 2014, the charges against political activist were replaced with Article 258 Section 4 (hooliganism committed with a weapon or another item used as a weapon). Harutyunyan faces up to 7 years in prison under new charges.
