YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The judicial board for civil proceedings of the Supreme Court of Armenia rejected the formal appeal lodged by the representative of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Executive Council of Armenia–Vahan Hovanessian–who contested a decision made by the Central Electoral Commission–barring him from participating in the National Assembly election process.
Hovanessian who has been held captive since July 29–1995 as a defendant in the "Trial of 31," was declared ineligible to run because of his captivity.
Judge Mher Khachatrian–the presiding official on the case justified the decision saying that election law did not contradict the constitution–and the CEC actions were within the legal bounds.
Referring to articles 26 and 14 of the Convention on Political and Civil Rights–he explained that Hovanessian’s possible status as a candidate would have delayed the court proceedings for the remaining 30 individuals who were involved in the case.
Hovhanes Asrian–Hovanessian’s attorney–demonstrated a curious link between the court’s decision and recent commen’s by Levon Ter-Petrosyan saying "If they register him–the trial will last still for a year. Don’t you feel sorry for these people? The sooner the trial ends–the better it is. Perhaps they’ll be acquitted."