Lawyers to Fight for Their Rights by Turning to the Prime Minister

Lawyers are initiating measures to protect their rights. In this regard, a statement issued by the Chamber of Advocates of the Republic of Armenia states:

“On January 14, 2019, a meeting of the Lawyers Club was held at the Chamber of Advocates, where lawyers discussed how to defend themselves against the insulting and intolerant actions by a group of individuals towards lawyers in recent times.

During the discussion, speeches were made by lawyers Ara Zohrebeyan, Hayk Alumyuyan, Eduard Aghajanyan, Karen Mejlumyan, Hrant Ananyan, Sedrak Asatryan, Melanya Arustamyan, Armine Fanyan, Marine Faruyan, Arsen Mkrtchyan, Harutyun Harutyunyan, Levon Sahakyan, Seyran Grigoryan, Gurgen Grigoryan, Edgar Bademyan, Zarouhi Postanjyan, Aram Orbelian, and Vrej Khachikyan, who presented their views and suggestions.

As a result of the discussions, the lawyers formed an initiatory group consisting of 11 lawyers and decided to:

• Expand the rapid response group of lawyers by involving new lawyers on a voluntary basis.
• Address law enforcement agencies to eliminate obstacles to the professional activities of lawyers and hold those responsible accountable.
• Appeal to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, as the head of the executive body, to take all necessary measures to ensure that the freedom of lawyers' professional activities is respected, protected, and promoted without discrimination, and free from unlawful interference by authorities or certain members of society, including initiating the process of criminalizing acts that insult lawyers in relation to their professional activities, display disrespect towards them, and obstruct the exercise of their powers.
• Establish that if the executive power fails to take adequate measures towards resolving the issue, the legal community will initiate general protests by lawyers.
• Inform international organizations about the issue.

Members of the initiatory group include:

Ara Zohrebeyan
Vahe Yeprikyan
Armine Fanyan
Eduard Aghajanyan
Erik Aleksanyan
Karen Mejlumyan
Levon Sahakyan
Simon Babayan
Sedrak Asatryan
Harutyun Harutyunyan
Marine Faruyan