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On March 25, 2011 a group of advocates and on April 4, 2011the RA Council of Courts’ Chairpersons expressed their indignation and doubtfulness regarding the statements presented by Prosecutor Karen Shahbazyan attempts to exert an erroneous perception among the society members about the System of Justice and apply pressure on the Judiciary.

During a meeting with journalists on March 22, 2011, Lori Region Prosecutor General Karen Shahbazyan disseminated misinformation regarding the March 20, 2011 resolution of the Lori Region Court of First Instance. The court rejected the solicitation submitted by an interrogator from the Lori Region Department regarding an application of detention as a preventive measure against the 72-year-old Maksim Petrosyan, who is diagnosed with a second category disability, and was charged according to Section 1 of Article 104 of RA Criminal Code. During the meeting, the Prosecutor disputed the validity of the resolution approved by the Court, which hadn’t yet entered into legal rule. Karen Shahbazyan qualified it as groundless and labeled Maksim Petrosyan as a “killer”, who was benefiting from the constitutional guarantee of the presumption of innocence.During meetings with journalists,the Lori Region Prosecutor General attempted to assure the participants that the court has reached an unfair and groundless.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office believes that an independent judiciary will be the sole authority to reinstate the violated human rights. The HCA Vanadzor office welcomes the challenge to establish an independent judiciary and is determined to fight the impeding obstacles, as the establishment of an independent and impartial judiciary stands as one of the major guarantees for the development of a legitimate government.