Mariam Sukhudyan demands to adjourn case hearing
The Civil Court of Appeal today adjourned the hearing into the case of environmental activist Mariam Sukhudyan due to the absence of a police representative and defense lawyer Liparit Simonyan.
During today's court sitting which started with a 25-munite delay, Mariam Sukhudyan refused to participate in the litigation without his lawyer and demanded to adjourn the sitting.
Sukhudyan is appealing the decision of the General Jurisdiction Court of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative District to discontinue the administrative suit against the Armenian police.
After discovering and reporting the fact of sexual harassment towards children of Nubarashen Boarding School number 11 by their teacher, charges were brought against environmentalist Mariam Sukhudyan for libel and false crime reporting. Later the accusations were dismissed and the teacher was tried on sexual charges.
When the case was yet at the stage of preliminary inquiry, the Head of RA Police Alik Sargsyan said at the press conference on August 21, 2008 that Mariam Sukhudyan presented groundless accusations, slandered innocent people and urged the minors to commit offences. The Head of RA Police Information and Public Relation Department Sayat Shirinyan named Mariam Sukhudyan "offender" during an interview to a local newspaper.
At the Court defense lawyer of the plaintiff party Liparit Simonyan again insisted that the presumption of innocence of his client Mariam Sukhudyan was violated. For reparation of the moral damage the suit demands 1 million AMD.
The next court sitting is set for May 5.
