Armenia: courthouses blocked after Pashinyan's appeal

This morning, supporters of the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, gathered at the courthouses and prevented employees from starting work.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in response to the release of the second President of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, from custody, Nikol Pashinyan called on his supporters to block the country's courthouses starting from 8:30 a.m. Moscow time on May 20.

The action "In the name of an independent court" has started in Armenia: despite the rain, since morning, people are coming to Yerevan courthouses; they block all the entrances and exits, the "Sputnik Armenia" has reported today. The MPs from the faction "My Step" take part in the action in all regions of the country.

The "News Armenia" reports that about 50 people, led by David Sanasaryan, the head of the State Control Service, gathered in Yerevan, at the entrance to the building of the general jurisdiction court, which had ruled to release Kocharyan. According to Mr Sanasaryan, the courts were given a "chance of correction," but "we know that (the courts) have failed to correct." "The judicial system is not healing itself," the "News Armenia" quotes him as saying.

The campaigners have also blocked the entrance to the court of general jurisdiction of the administrative district of Shengavit; Judge David Balayan could not get to his workplace, the "Armtimes" reports. He later tried to enter the building through a window, but protesters blocked his way.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 20, 2019 at 10:27 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.