Criminal case has been launched against Mher Yenokyan and Soghomon Kocharyan, sentenced to life imprisonment, by Article 255, part 2, point 1 of the RA Criminal Code - escape from prison (punished by imprisonment maximum for 8 years).

The case is tried at the general jurisdiction court of Erebuni and Nubarashen communities' administrative region (judge Arthur Ohanyan). However, due to security considerations it is heard at Nubarashen penitentiary. 

Mher Yenokyan, 32 (convicted in 1996 by Article 35-355, part 1, Art. 67 of the RA Criminal Code) (see www.hra.am/am/point-of-view/2010/02/04/prison), and Soghomon Kocharyan, 44 (last conviction in 1995 by Art. 222, part 1, art. 104, part 2, points 8-11 of the RA Criminal Code) escaped from Nubarashen penitentiary on November 27, 2009.

They dislocated the grid of the penitentiary walking area roof, passed over the alarm system and outwall and escaped. They were found and arrested on December 18; Mher was arrested in the city center and Soghomon in Mughni village.

Soghomon Kocharyan rejected an attorney; Mher Yenokyan did not. The latter's attorney, Robert Revazyan from the Helsinki Committee of Armenia, says they both accept what they did (escape) but did not plead guilty in escape substantiating that they were initially unfairly sentenced to life imprisonment.

The trial is postponed for the 3^rd time due to witnesses' default of appearance. Only former fedayee Gurgen Shahbazyan witnessed at the court; he was Soghomon Kocharyan's friend and hosted him during 10 days of his escape.    

The witness mentioned in his word that he did not know about Soghomon Kocharyan's life sentenced status and hosted him as his old comrade-in-arms, and Soghomon told him that he had been in Russia for 15 years and had problems with passport and was waiting for their settlement.

Attorney Revazyan says that other witnesses in the case - shift senior A. Smbatyan, security department employees A. Atabekyan and V. Harutyunyan from Nubarashen penitentiary were not at the court because they were at Nubarashen penitentiary and were not brought to the court session on time. The three witnesses have been charged with Article 315, part 2 of the RA Criminal Code (official negligence leading to serious consequences punished by imprisonment maximum for 5 years).

This was Soghomon Kacharyan's and Mher Yenokyan's second escape. Six years ago, on December 9, 2004, they escaped from Goris penitentiary. However after 10 weeks they were arrested and moved to the Yerevan Nubarashen penitentiary. They were sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment.

Due to escape they may be deprived of the opportunity of appeal for pardon after 20 years as convicts sentenced to life imprisonment.

Examination of the criminal case against life sentenced Mher Yenokyan and Soghomon Kocharyan was postponed till 12:00 a.m. May 4 due to witnesses' default of appearance.

Christine Vardanyan

P.S. Mher Yenokyan and Soghomon Kocharyan, sentenced to life imprisonment, passing through dangers and twice escaping from prison (after being caught they underwent inhuman tortures and Mher Yenokyan harmed himself with a knife) are thus trying to attract attention of law enforcement bodies and the society to their problem. These people have a right for fair trial and it is their demand - review their criminal cases but their voice is not heard.

While in escape, during 22 days of freedom, Mher Yenokyan wrote a touching story titled "Real Story" which was presented to the Ankakh Inknagir blog story contest. Those interested have a chance to read the story.     

http://ankakh.com/inknagir/?p=445