YEREVAN. – The Armenian Court of Appeal returned the appeal that was submitted to it in connection with the arrest of ex-presidential contender, non-party affiliate, and epic poetry specialist Vardan Sedrakyan. “Now, we are preparing the petition to the European Court of Human Rights,” the Sirunyan Law Office told Armenian News-NEWS.am.   

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, capital city Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash General Jurisdiction Court on March 5 sentenced Vardan Sedrakyan to two months in prison. The National Security Service had filed a petition to have Sedrakyan incarcerated.  

The former presidential candidate is charged with giving the directive for the failed assassination attempt against fellow ex-presidential contender, opposition National Self-Determination Union Chairman, Paruyr Hayrikyan. 

Sedrakyan’s attorney, Aleksandr Sirunyan, appealed the ruling on Sedrakyan’s detention and also petitioned to the investigator to present the grounds for the charge. But the appeal on Sedrakyan’s detention was turned down on March 18. As a result, they petitioned to the Court of Appeal. 

Separately, the National Security Service laid new charges against Vardan Sedrakyan on April 16. 

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am