Administrative Court rejects HAK's appeal

Armenia's Administrative Court released a ruling late on Tuesday by which it rejected an appeal earlier filed by the opposition movement Armenian National Congress (HAK), HAK lawyer Vahe Hovsepyan told Tert.am.

Earlier the HAK had lodged a complaint to the Administrative Court and required to annul the decision by the Yerevan Municipality which did not authorize the HAK to hold a rally on Azatutyun (Liberty) Square - a symbolic venue opposition has traditional used for rallies and demonstrations.

HAK had last week asked the Yerevan Municipality to authorize it holding a rally on Azatutyun Square on September 17, but the Yerevan Municipality had rejected it, pointing to the fact that another event had been scheduled at the same site on that very day.

The Yerevan Municipality had instead allowed the HAK to hold the rally in the vicinities of Matenadaran. However, it had authorized the HAK to start the march from the Azatutyun Square.

The HAK considered the decision of the Yerevan Municipality as unlawful, as there had been no prior notification about another event scheduled on September 17 on Azatutyun Square.

"We require annulling the first passage of the first point of that decision," Vahe Hovsepyan told Tert.am before the court hearing.

Asked whether or not there was hope that the court would rule in favor of their lawsuit Mr Hovsepyan had said: "Not, of course!"

HAK has said it will appeal also to the European Court over the issue if need be. But before that the instance is the Court of Cassation.