CHAKHALYAN’S DEFENSE LAWYER WAS NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT HIM

armradio.am
19.08.2009 16:35

Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan’s defense lawyer
Stepan Voskanyan was not allowed to visit his client who is kept in
detention in Rustavi prison No. 2. Prison authorities accounted for
such decision by invalidity of documents authorizing Armenian lawyer
to meet with Chakhalyan.

The same day, Stepan Voskanyan applied to Georgian Ombudsman’s office
which found prison authorities’ decision groundless, Yerkir Union of
Union of NGOs reported.

Along with several other documents, Voskanyan also submitted his
written appeal addressed to Georgian Onbudsman Suzar Sobari and
prison administration.

Yerkir union estimates the decision as successful violation of
activist’s right, which aims to prevent defendant from preparing for
court hearing due on September 18, 2009. Besides, by making such step,
Georgian authorities also try to block Chakhalyan’s access to Armenian
media reports, to which his lawyer had previously introduced him.

Considering the above-mentioned, Yerkir union calls on Georgian
Ombudsman Sozar Subari, international human rights organizations and
diplomatic representations accredited to Georgia to make relevant
assessment on Georgian authorities’ disgraceful infringements in
relation to political activist Vahagn Chakhalyan and eliminate the
consequences of such step, ensuring his lawyer’s unimpeded access to
the defendant.