Fifteen of the men are charged with “hooliganism”, while only one faces charges of participating in “mass disturbances” during events that left about 100 people, including some police officers, injured.
Thousands of people led by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian gathered on June 12 on a street outside the Armenian parliament building where Pashinian was attending a question-and-answer session with lawmakers amid unprecedented security measures. Scuffles broke out there moments before security forces hurled dozens of stun grenades into the crowd.
The use of force by police was strongly condemned not only by Galstanian’s opposition-backed movement but also by Armenia’s leading civic groups.
The Investigative Committee said in June it was also investigating “the proportionality and legality” of the police actions that left at least 83 protesters and 8 journalists injured, but no police officers have been charged yet.
Galstanian, who attended the opening of the trial, claimed the case was politically motivated. “This is a guided political decision. It solves no legal issue. Had some action been taken also against the police officers, I would have said it was a legal process,” he said.
As the trial began, four of the indicted opposition supporters were in pre-trial custody, and eight were under house arrest. Other measures of restraint, including administrative control and confinement to city limits, were applied to the remaining four.
The defendants’ lawyers requested changes to the measures of restraint, while prosecutors argued they should remain in place to ensure due process. The court ultimately granted some of the lawyers’ requests, easing the measures for several defendants, including one in pre-trial detention and several under house arrest.
The defendants generally pleaded not guilty to the charges. While they acknowledged being present at the scene and some of them even admitted throwing bottles and other small items at police officers, they argued that those actions were “spontaneous” and did not result in any injuries to police officer.
Those charged with hooliganism face up to two years in prison if convicted. Participation in mass disturbances can result in up to three years of imprisonment under Armenia’s penal code.
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