The judge in Hrayr Tovmasyan`s case instructed the police to ensure  the latter`s presence at the next court hearing: the lawyer calls the  decision unlawful

ArmInfo.The lawyer of the Constitutional Court judge Hrayr Tovmasyan, Aram Orbelyan, stated  that his client did not appear in court today because he was not properly notified. Nevertheless, the court, considering that Tovmasyan is avoiding participation in the trial, decided to summon  him to the next court hearing, scheduled for 15:30 on September 2, ordering the police to enforce the decision.  

Thus, today, the judge of the first instance Tatevik Grigoryan stated that she has received  clarifications from the Constitutional Court apparatus and the police  that the latter failed to serve Tovmasyan with a notice to appear in  court. In the first case, Tovmasyan was not in the CC building, and  in the second, he was not at his place of residence.

After the court hearing, Aram Orbelyan informed journalists that the  court had suspended Hrayr Tovmasyan from the proceedings and had not  notified him of subsequent hearings. As  Tovmasyan's defense  attorney, Orbelyan also mentioned that did not receive some  notifications, beacause the court sent them to a different address.  Furthermore, the court did not make an effort to confirm the latter's  email address with the Constitutional Court. He emphasized that,  according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the Court should have  notified Tovmasyan by mail.  Regarding today's court decision,  Orbelyan believes it is controversial from a legal standpoint:  bringing a judge of the Constitutional Court in without the consent  of the Constitutional Court is not allowed. "In our opinion, an  unlawful decision was made, since a reasonable notification procedure  was not carried out. The most common method, notification by mail,  was not carried out," the lawyer summarized.

To recall that Hrayr Tovmasyan is accused of abusing his office,  which has resulted in serious consequences. Previously, there was a  dispute during a court hearing, that resulted in the removal of Aram  Orbelyan from the courtroom, followed by Hrayr Tovmasyan. It was  revealed that during the court hearing, which proceeded without  Tovmasyan and his lawyer present, the prosecutor made a speech  demanding a 7- year prison sentence for Constitutional Court judge.