13:01, 16 December 2019

Court refuses to release Manvel Grigoryan

Manvel Grigoryan in the courtroom. Photo by Tigran Petrosyan for the Caucasian Knot

The appellate instance has found the refusal of the court to release on bail Manvel Grigoryan, a former Armenian MP, accused of illegal possession of weapons and embezzlement as lawful.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Manvel Grigoryan's advocate insist on his release from custody, referring to his complaints about his health condition. However, the court is repeatedly refusing to satisfy advocates' motions. Thus, on November 5, 2019, the judge again left Grigoryan in custody.

According to the decision of the medical commission, announced at the court on October 29, the Grigoryan's health condition does not prevent him from staying in custody and participating in court sessions. At the same time, at three court sessions, on November 12, 19 and 26, Grigoryan felt bad in the courtroom. Armenian human rights defenders treat the refusal to release the former MP from custody as cruelty.

Today, the Armenian Court of Appeal (CoA) has found the refusal to change the freedom restriction measure against Grigoryan as legitimate, Arsen Mkrtchyan, one of Grigoryan's advocates, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent. He explained that the advocates had asked to release Manvel Grigoryan on bail.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 16, 2019 at11:33 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Author: Armine Martirosyan

Source: CK correspondent