Court sanctions pretrial detention for Armenian opposition activist
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 3 September 2013 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Court sanctions pretrial detention for Armenian opposition activist, 3 September 2013, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/525e3f2cf.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
September 03, 2013
By RFE/RL's Armenian Service
YEREVAN – A court in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, has sanctioned the pretrial detention of opposition activist Dmitry Harutiunian.
According to the court's decision on September 3, Harutiunian, 32, an activist in the Preparliament civic movement, will be held for two months.
Harutiunian, a military physician, was detained on August 24 during a protest against controversial plans by a local businessman to construct a new building in downtown Yerevan. He was charged with disobeying and insulting police.
His wife, Yelena Kozhenakina, who is a Russian citizen, says she plans to ask the Russian Embassy in Yerevan to intervene in the situation.
She says police physically intimidated her, her two children – who are also Russian citizens – and her husband during the latter's detention.
Harutiunian's lawyers say their client's detention is politically motivated.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website