Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders Annual Report 2006 - Armenia

Release of Mr. Vahe Grigoryan1

On February 15, 2006, Mr. Vahe Grigoryan, a lawyer and head of the Right-Legal Group, who represented four families challenging their eviction from their house in Yerevan, was released after being remanded over four months in custody. After examining Mr. Grigoryan's complaint following the ruling of the Court of First Instance extending his pre-trial detention until April 7, 2006, the Court of Appeal ordered his release on the grounds that the investigation had not been completed within the legal time limit.

Mr. Grigoryan had been arrested on October 7, 2005 and charged by the Public Prosecutor with "fraud" (Article 178-3-1 of the Criminal Code) and "falsification of documents" (Article 325-2) on the basis of a confession extracted under coercion. He has been increasingly harassed since early 2005 due to his activities within the Right-Legal Group.


1. See Joint Report FIDH/Civil Society Institute (CSI), Overview of Major Human Rights Issues in the Republic of Armenia, November 14, 2006.

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.