The Anti-Corruption Court, presided over by Judge Vahe Dolmazyan, recently delivered a verdict in the case of lawyer Erik Aleksanyan, suspended Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan, and his assistant Tamara Gasparyan. The court announced the guilty verdict.
As a reminder, on October 17, 2022, NSS officers stormed the courthouse and arrested Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan and his lawyer. The Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia filed a petition with the Supreme Court requesting permission to initiate a criminal case and deprive Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan of his liberty, which was granted after several hours of investigation. The criminal proceedings relate to a case involving abuse of power.
Specifically, the court ordered the release on bail of Sergei Grigoryan, known as “Faz,” a criminal court employee, after granting the motion of his lawyer, Erik Aleksanyan. The NCJS now accuses the judge of committing a manifestly unfair judicial act and abuse of office. As part of the same proceedings, charges were also brought against Erik Aleksanyan’s lawyer, whom the NCJS accuses of aiding Judge Aleksanyan in his abuse of office. According to the lawyers, “assistance” can be considered his use of his attorney’s powers and filing a motion to overturn the preventive measure chosen for his client and recognize an alternative preventive measure as permissible. Arusyak Aleksanyan, the judge’s assistant, Tamara Petrosyan, and Erik Aleksanyan deny the charges against them.