Saturday, November 19 2016 14:04

ArmInfo. The general jurisdiction court of Arabkir and Kanaker- Zeytun administrative districts satisfied the pretrial investigation motion on extension of  the arrest of Sasna Tsrer (Daredevils of Sassoon) group member Varuzhan Avetisyan and Founding Parliament initiative member Garo Yeghnukian.    

Avetisyan is charged with taking hostages and illegal keeping,  bearing and transportation of arms and ammunition, as well as  preparation of mass disorders on the threshold of Armenian Genocide  Centennial events in 2015.   

Avetisyan's lawyer Ara Zakaryan told reporters that the proceedings  are formal and that he does not trust the Armenian judiciary. He  added that the charges against his client have been toughened - now  he is also charged with theft of arms.    

To note, Avetisyan decided not to attend the court hearings. He does  not plead guilty. Avetisyan claims that he and the other members of  Sasna Tsrer committed a political action, not a crime.   

Garo Yeghnukian, who is charged with supporting the Sasna Tsrer  group, which seized a police compound in July 2016, will also remain  under arrest for two more months. Yeghnukian's lawyer Tigran  Hayrapetyan noted that the court has taken a political decision  again. "The investigator presented no files, but the court satisfied  the motion," he said. 

To recall, on July 22 the National Security Service filed a charge  against Yeghnukian under Article 218 Part 3 (assistance to hostage  taking) and Article 219 Part 3 (assistance to seizure of buildings).  Earlier Yeghnukian stated that despite his membership in Founding  Parliament he knew nothing about seizure of Police Patrol Service  Regiment. Refering to Yeghnukian's posts in Facebook and his tapped  phone calls, the law-enforcers say he disseminated misinformation  allegedly about military hardware moving towards the police compound  seized by Sasna Tsrer group or alleged poisoning of the group members  with the food transferred by the Police. Besides, the Police say  Yeghnukyan led the protesters to Khorenatsi Street and tried to  ensure radio communication of the armed group members with their  families. Yeghnukian with his wife and five children moved to Armenia  in 2009 from U.S. They are all U.S. citizens.