The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on Thursday made a decision on the case of Avetisyan v. Armenia.

The ECtHR ruled for Avetisyan, noting that several points of Article 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) were violated. Specifically, Avetisyan didn’t receive an opportunity to question the prosecution witnesses during the  criminal proceedings against him.

The Armenian Government must thus pay EUR 2,400 (non-pecuniary damage) and EUR 500 (costs and expenses) to Davit Avetisyan.

In April 2009, Mr Avetisyan, his friend and two other persons visited a mutual friend who was in prison in Goris town. His friend, D.T., and the others, D.O. and M.S., bought a cake, which they took to the arrestee. Later Avetisyan was accused of acquiring and delivering drugs, which were found in the cake. Avetisyan was sentenced to five and a half years. The verdict was based on the testimonies of three persons, accompanying him to the prison, whom the defending side was unable to question.