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Ombudsman refuses to comment on civil activist's verdict

Politics
tatoyan1

Armenian Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan today refused to comment on the verdict in the case of civil activist Gevorg Safaryan who was sentenced to two years in prison two days ago. “Safaryan was found guilty by a Yerevan court but the verdict has not entered into force yet. The law prohibits any interference by the Ombudsman’s Office. If I give any assessment, it would be a gross violation of the law,” Mr Tatoyan told reporters on January 18. On Monday, Gevorg Safaryan, a member of the Founding Parliament opposition movement, was found guilty of using violence against a power official. He was detained during clashes between police and demonstrators in Yerevan’s Liberty Square on New Year’s Eve and was immediately charged under Criminal Code Article 316.1(violence against a government representative. Safaryan has been in custody for a year.