YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–A defense attorney for defendant in the so-called "Trial of 31" case Vahan Hovanessian was denied a meeting with his client.
Attorney Hovaness Assryan told Noyan Tapan that he was verbally told by Interior and National Security ministries that he could not confer with his client.
Asstryan was refused a meeting with Hovanessian last Thursday. Authorities said that Assryan was being denied his rights–since he allegedly violated certain rules and laws during previous visits to the prison.
Assryan stated that even if the National Security Administration had proof that he was in violation of certain prison codes–that still did not allow the administration to violate Hovanessian’s constitutional rights by refusing him legal counsel.
Assryan has filed a protest with Armenia’s Interior and National Security minister Serge Sargsian.
In this regard–Armenia’s Political Prisoners’ Defense Council issued a statement Monday–condemning the state’s obvious violation of Hovanessian’s rights.
The announcement stressed that no entity had the right to violate an individual’s constitutional rights.
The announcement also stated that such blatant legal violations were taking place at a time when certain elemen’s within the Armenian leadership were attempting to establish dialogue with opposition forces in Armenia.
The Defense Council –urged an immediate end to deliberate efforts to undermine the fragile dialogue process.