Advocate Arayik Papikyan was found guilty

The judge of Erebuni and Nubarashen Court of General Jurisdiction, Artush Gabrielyan filed a motion in the Chamber of Advocates. The reason for his application was that on September 7, 2017, defense lawyer Arayik Papikyan left the court room where the trial of “Sasna Tsrer” cases was held. He had tried to file a motion on the withdrawal of the prosecutors in the case, but at the same time he found it important that  other defense lawyers to be present there. Arayik Papikyan also wanted to provide the presence of his client who had been dismissed by the judge’s decision.

The parties did not attend the disciplinary hearing of case No. 17128. Defense lawyer Arayik Papikyan had applied to the Board of the Chamber of Advocates to ask for postponing the hearing as he was overloaded with some urgent jobs and could not attend the hearing. Yet, the request had no effect: the Board made a decision to continue the hearing, during which A. Papikyan was reprimanded for violating the requirements of Chapter 4 .1 of the Code of Advocate’s Ethics. It states that in representing a client in pre-trial proceedings and in court, an advocate shall follow civil and criminal procedural codes, the Law on Advocacy, the Charter of the Chamber, the requirements of this Code, as well as other legal acts regulating conduct of trial participants.   The obligation to obey these rules does not limit the ability of the advocate to object against the actions of the judge or arbitrator or to exercise other remedial rights. At the same time, the advocate must respect the interests of his client without any fear of his own interests or any consequences that may arise with him or with any other person, while showing proper respect and sympathy to the court. (See at http://www.ccbe.eu/NTCdocument/Armenia_EN_Code_of_C1_1236165221.pdf)