ArmInfo.Human Rights Watch urges to release oppositionist activist Andreas Ghukasyan.
The organization mentions that last week a court in Armenia ordered Andreas Ghukasyan, a senior member of the opposition New Armenia movement, to remain in detention for an additional two months pending trial on criminal charges of "organizing mass disorder." During last week's hearing, the prosecutor argued for continued detention, citing the gravity of the charges. Yet publicly-available video footage of July 29 shows Ghukasyan calling on demonstrators to remain calm and not confront the police. The court reviewed the video, but denied Ghukasyan's lawyer's motion to allow journalists who witnessed the protests and some protest participants to testify in Ghukasyan's defense.
Human Rights Watch refers to the European Court's stand, which has been very clear that pretrial detention should be a measure of last resort, and that specific facts and personal circumstances relevant to the accused are needed to justify pretrial detention. Courts may not rely on "general and abstract" reasons for detention. Investigators contended that Ghukasyan would most likely abscond or interfere with the investigation, but presented no evidence to substantiate that claim. The prosecutor simply listed the reasons established in Armenian law for denying bail. Nothing else. The organization considers that to show full respect for Armenia's human rights commitments, investigators should revise their request for pretrial detention for Ghukasyan, and release him pending a trial founded on a credible investigation into the charges against him.
To note, Andreas Ghukasyan was arrested and is accused of organizing mass disorders in Yerevan in July 2016 after seizure of police building by Sasna Tsrer armed group. He has been kept under arrest for already 6 months. He has even announced hunger strike demanding a fair trial. Other activists arrested with him under the same charge, members of Heritage party Armen Martirosyan, Hovsep Khurshudyan and David Sanasaryan have been released.