I Believe That the Detention of Archbishop Arshak Will Be Extended: Lawyer

Lawyer Arsen Babayan made a Facebook post providing details about the motion for the extension of Archbishop Arshak’s detention: "During the day, when I wrote that there would be a hearing tomorrow, I did not want to disclose additional information regarding the apparent court manipulation in the selection process, as I thought I might clarify other circumstances later. However, everything is already clear to me, and I will elaborate.

First, let me announce that the closed session scheduled for tomorrow at 15:00 under the presidency of H. Manukyan will not take place. So, the investigator submitted the motion to the court on January 26. Since the duty court for that day was in Shengavit, the investigator should have naturally presented the motion there. Later, I learned from internal sources that although the duty court was in Shengavit, the motion was sent to the Avan court.

I immediately checked the court authority's website to verify the duty roster again, and you know what became clear? Since the 26th, no court in Yerevan has been on duty. This means that Shengavit's duty was simply removed from the duty list. The first thing I understood was that they sent it to the Avan court for what purpose? Yes, to assign it to Masis Melkonyan. But through further checks, I found out that Masis Melkonyan is on vacation. I was pleased.

Then, I received a call from the judge's office of the Avan court, and they informed me that Mr. Manukyan scheduled the hearing regarding Archbishop Arshak's detention for tomorrow at 15:00. I was even happier; first, because Masis Melkonyan was not recalled from vacation (I believe that too), and then, because a quite competent judge will make a decision.

But what happened next is very absurd... I received another call from the Avan court, and I was informed that there has been a re-registration regarding Archbishop Arshak's detention case. In other words, it has been decided that H. Manukyan will not examine the motion. Now I am convinced that Masis Melkonyan will return from his vacation and will extend the Archbishop's detention...

P.S. But it is really a shame. I am even ashamed on your behalf. At least don’t assign it to Masis Melkonyan. You have other qualified judges at the Avan court as well."