HCA Vanadzor against RA Police: Preliminary Court Hearing Took Place
12:00, October 14, 2014 | News, Own news | Freedom of Information and Speech | Police
On October 13, 2014, the RA Administrative Court, presided by judge A. Danielyan, held a preliminary court hearing within the examination of the claim by the HCA Vanadzor to oblige the RA Police to provide requested information.
Artur Sakunts, Chairman of the HCA Vanadzor, sent an inquiry to V. Gasparyan, Chief of the RA Police, on the number of police officers employed at the RA Police divisions, as well as those of them holding managerial and average positions, the number of male and female officers. A. Sakunts also asked to provide the information inquired by ranks of the officers in question. However, V. Yeghiazaryan, Head of the RA Police Headquarters, refused to provide the requested information citing Decree No. 2-NG on Approving the Extended Departmental Lists of the RA Police Information to be Classified and noting that the information about the staff number either by rates or by lists was deemed confidential.
Later the Chairman of the HCA Vanadzor sent another inquiry to V. Gasparyan, Chief of the RA Police, demanding a copy of the Decree above and the extended departmental lists of the RA Police information to be classified and again was met with refusal on the pretext that the Decree was classified.
Based on the rejections above, A. Sakunts, Chairman of the HCA Vanadzor, filed a claim with the RA Administrative Court demanding to oblige the RA Police to provide the information requested.
The preliminary court hearing within the examination of the claim of October 13, 2014 was attended by lawyer Arayik Zalyan, representative of A. Sakunts, Chairman of HCA Vanadzor, and Tigran Avetisyan, representative of the RA Police.
At the preliminary hearing, the subject and grounds of the claim were specified, and the parties presented the legal acts regulating the relevant social relations. The Court made it clear that it was the administrative body that bore the burden of proof to substantiate the claim in terms of the factual bases for denying the requested action or for the inaction, and the natural or legal person – in terms of the facts favorable to them. Thus, the Court referred to Article 124 of the RA Administrative Procedure Code considering the proceedings ready for trial and set the date for the trial.
The claim of the HCA Vanadzor against the RA Police will be examined at 11:40 am, on November 14, 2014.