The European Court of Human Rights, sitting as a Chamber delivered its judgment regarding the case of “Arzumanyan v. Armenia” (application no. 25935/08), finding violation of 5 § 3 (right to liberty and security / entitlement to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights.
The case concerned the detention of the former Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of a political movement called “Civil Disobedience” for money laundering.
The applicant was arrested in May 2007 and placed in detention. The courts ordered his detention on the grounds of the gravity of the offence and the risk of his absconding, obstructing justice or reoffending. The detention was repeatedly extended on the similar grounds.
The European Court has held that the respondent State (Republic of Armenia) is to pay the applicant EUR 2,000 (non-pecuniary damage) and EUR 500 (costs and expenses).
