2019 May 19
Anti-Corruption Daily
Anti-Corruption & News - May/19/2019: Revolution 2.0..... Pashinyan calls for protests against the "dysfunctional justice system" by blockading court entrances...... The Supreme Court Board gathers an emergency meeting..... President Sarkissian responds.... Opposition parties unhappy/happy
by ar_david_hh
Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams unless specified otherwise.
weekend wrap-up
The court took into account two Artsakh presidents' personal assurances that Robert Kocharyan will behave properly if freed, and made a decision not to extend his 2-month detention. The prosecutors say they can challenge this verdict within 10 days. They believe the type of crimes he is charged with, coupled with the risks of intervention by him, do not qualify him for release.
Kochyan is still facing multiple counts of felony charges, but will remain free unless found guilty, or unless the prosecutors challenge and win today's verdict.
Kocharyan's lawyer isn't fully happy with the verdict because the reason for Kocharyan's release isn't based on the court's decision to end the trial due to prosecutor's case being without merits, but the personal assurances of two Artsakh presidents.
Several QP MPs have shown displeasure with the verdict, saying that they live in a new country with the old justice system. Others, including PM Pashinyan's office, said this is a proof the courts aren't directed by the government. Others argued that transitional justice system is necessary.
http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161739 --- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161756 ---- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161757 --- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161754 ---- https://armenpress.am/arm/news/975319.html --- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161743
.........................................
Angered Anti-Kocharyan protesters tried to enter the court area after the verdict. Some of them tried to close the roads to prevent Kocharyan's son from leaving with the car. The police and pro-Kocharyan activists helped to clear the road.
Several ARF members were there in support of Kocharyan. A physical confrontation took place between them and an anti-Kocharyan protester, after the ARF member verbally insulted a female anti-Kocharyan protester. Her boyfriend didn't take it lightly. The police intervened to stop the confrontation. After causing the hateful conduct themselves, ARF released a statement blaming the incident on Pashinyan administration, accusing it of creating an atmosphere of hate.
https://hetq.am/hy/article/103801 ---- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qE9y8dj-K94
............................................
Anti-Rob activists continued the march in the evening. They were marching and chanting "Robik mardaspan" (Rob the murderer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGWpCF3QWA4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9p4i0YE4Jo
.............................................
HHK spokesman Edward Shawarmazanov was also there to support Rob. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE7drinavVM
Another court has refused to approve the arrest warrant for the director of Roboserj media outlets 5th channel. He was earlier charged with hooliganism with the use of an object serving as a weapon. A video allegedly shows him hitting activist Vardges Gaspari during the Kocharyan trials few days ago.
http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/161755
The day after the trial was over, PM Pashinyan called for the public to gather on Monday and shut down all the roads and entrances leading to all court buildings, in an act of protest.
He vowed reforms in the justice system, saying the second and most important stage of Armenian revolution has begun. The main statement to come tomorrow. He will not physically participate in tomorrow's protests (perhaps for legal reasons). https://factor.am/152073.html
QP Alen Simonyan said the March 1st isn't forgotten and no one can escape justice, and that the country needs a transitional justice system.
Another QP MP (and presumably a university professor) Gevorg Papoyan called for the students to boycott the classes and join the "blockade" of the court buildings. "The missed classes will be filled after the second stage of the revolution is over."
https://armtimes.com/hy/article/161777 ---- https://armtimes.com/hy/article/161774 --- https://armtimes.com/hy/article/161766 --- https://factor.am/152004.html
........................................
Pashinyan went live. Urged the public to join the act of protest beginning 8:30 AM and block all court building entrances, and to do so peacefully without falling for any provocations. He said Armenia needs a functional justice system, the one that doesn't obey to others, including him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzH0EWsD1Ao
.........................................
Some people begun organizing today in Freedom Square. They were chanting "Robik murderer", "Nikol Prime Minister", "We're the owners of your country". They called for people from provinces to come and join the protests in Yerevan.
.......................................
Several former opposition politicians, ARF party, HHK party, at least one BHK high ranking MP, Lawyer's Union, Human Rights Ombudsman, labeled tomorrow's protests unacceptable and urged the public and politicians not to block the entrances.
The Supreme Court Board gathered a meeting. They called the proposed blockade unacceptable. They will issue a response to the brewing situation tomorrow, after meeting Pashinyan to clarify what his intentions are regarding justice system reforms.
https://factor.am/151999.html ---- https://factor.am/152047.html --- https://factor.am/152055.html
......................................
Opposition Heritage (Jharangutyun) party criticized the courts, saying that during Kocharyan's administration, they also gave personal assurances to release people from detention, but the courts did not approve theirs. They are suspicious as to why the court approved Kocharyan's release. They called for the government to take action, saying some forces (Roboserj) are trying to return to power. They also criticized the fact that many judges refused to hear Kocharyan's case for no valid reason, by recusing themselves. (one judge was earlier issued a formal warning by the panel of judges)
They also criticized the Pashinyan administration for not bringing the transitional justice system soon enough, and for having unnecessary restrains in its implementation.
...................
Opposition LHK party released a statement opposing the blockade, but in a milder tone, saying it will prevent ordinary people from using the courts to settle their disputes. He urged QP to use its powers to do the justice reforms, which they haven't done yet. They urged Speaker Mirzoyan to hold a Parliamentary meeting to discuss the situation. Concludes the statement.
....................................
BREAKING: President Armen Sarkissian released a statement, saying the Constitution declares that the power is in the hands of the people. Therefor, all 3 branches of the government must reflect people's wishes. He urged people to keep calm and follow the laws. He will return from overseas soon. (where are the people who were saying Sarkissian was organizing a secret coup against Pashinyan now?)
US-funded humanitarian HALO Trust has so far removed 20,000 landmines and other leftover dangerous items from Artsakh.
Link to original report: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/bqlpjm/anticorruption_news_may192019_revolution_20/
| 2018 Daily Armenia Reports | |
|---|---|
| June |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| July |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| August |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| September |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| October |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| November |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| December |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| 2019 Daily Armenia Reports | |
|---|---|
| January |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| February |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 |
| March |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| April |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| May |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| June |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| July |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| August |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| September |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| October |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |
| November |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 |
| December |
1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 15 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 22 • 23 • 24 • 25 • 26 • 27 • 28 • 29 • 30 • 31 |