Georgian authorities proves again that Chakhalyan case is political order
03.07.2009 22:19 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgian authorities make amendments to the Criminal
Procedure Code in order to deny registration of a French lawyer
Patrick Arapian as a defender of Vahagn Chakhalyan, `Yerkir’ Union
reported to PanARMENIAN.net.
According to the changes in the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia,
which came into force on June 24, 2009, foreign lawyers are no longer
allowed to defend Georgian citizens on the territory of Georgia . This
amendment was announced on June 30 at the hearing in the Case of
refusal to register the French lawyer Patrick Arapian as a defender of
Javakheti political activist Vahagn Chakhalyan by the representatives
of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, which is the respondent side in
this case.
Adoption of the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code of Georgia
coincided with the processes surrounding the registration of a French
lawyer as a defender of Vahagn Chakhalyan, which cannot be a
coincidence. In fact, by the adoption of this law the Georgian
authorities created a basis for the court to disallow the claim,
appealing the illegal decision to refuse registration.
By its step to `legitimize’ a violation of the rights of Vahagn
Chakhalyan by using the supreme legislative body of the state, the
Georgian authorities once again show that the trial on Javakheti
political activist has purely political grounds, based on trumped-up
charges, and to crown it they are not only ready to grossly violate
the fundamental right to a fair and impartial trial, but also
discretionally reshape laws of their country.
Based on the foregoing, the `Yerkir’ Union once again calls upon the
Ombudsman of Georgia, the international structures and human rights
organizations: to recognize Vahagn Chakhalyan as a political prisoner;
to assess the facts of flagrant violations of Vahagn Chakhalyan
rights; to put adequate pressure on the Georgian authorities in order
to ensure the right of Vahagn Chakhalyan to a fair and impartial
trial.