This year, one of the most alarming trends in Armenia has been the use of the former KGB, the National Security Service (NSS), to protect state interests. Now, after the Turkyilmaz fiasco and the arrest of two businessmen who spoke out about high level corruption in Armenia, it’s the turn of a human rights lawyer.

His crime? He dared to defend the rights of citizens standing in the way of the largest land grab by oligarchs and state officials in Yerevan’s history.

Counsel for jailed attorney Vahe Grigoryan have released documents that give grounds to accusations that Grigoryan’s arrest was fabricated by authorities who want to silence the attorney’s representation of Buzand Street clients in their effort to resist eviction.

As previously reported here, Grigoryan has been the legal face of claims brought by residents in the urban renewal district of Yerevan who say they are being illegally relocated or insufficiently compensated for moving.

Grigoryan has been in jail since early September, charge with fraud and extortion.

[…]

Grigoryan appealed his conviction, but the lower court’s verdict was upheld. He now faces up to 10 years in jail.

According to Armenia Now, the case raises significant questions about the independence of the judiciary in Armenia. In particular, statements taken in California should require that U.S. officials become involved.

In a document prepared in July and certified by the State Secretary of California, Hakboyan states that, on Grigoryan’s insistence, he sent documents to Yerevan with a corresponding seal and signature authorizing Grigoryan to receive the money.

In a notarized statement taken in California, Hakobyan states that Grigoryan later transferred the pay-back to Hakobyan’s US account – minus Grigoryan’s agreed upon fee.

[…]

Grigoryan’s lawyers say that the judge and prosecutor rejected the statement from California as false.

“If it is false, then they must call to account the State Secretary of California and summon as a witness the state’s governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to ask him how his office forged the document,” says lawyer Tigran Atanesyan.

So serious is the rise in high level corruption in Armenia, despite what the government says, and so alarming is the use of the state apparatus to silence anyone who dares to stand in the way, that John Hughes, editor of Armenia Now, has written an op-ed on the case.

Personalities or social advocacy aside, can somebody please help this “Outsider” understand something: How is it that this country’s judicial system can allow one man to be elected mayor while behind bars for murder, and also denying an attorney the right to continue representing his clients while he is jailed on (arguable) fraud charges?

Some background:

On September 24 in the town of Nor Hajn (near Yerevan), Armen Keshishyan shot Ashot Mkhitaryan dead in front of several witnesses that included two police officers. If it matters – and it probably does — Keshishyan killed the man with a pistol that had been given him as a gift by Armenia’s Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. (Turns out, by the way, that the PM has handed out a lot of pistols to pals, according to his ministerial prerogative. And it is not the first time one of the gifts has been used in a crime.)

On October 9, Keshishyan, known, if it matters – and it probably does – to have the support of People of Power, was re-elected Nor Hajn’s mayor, in an election called “the most peaceful in the entire district” by the election committee chairman . (The mayor/murderer, of his own accord, had the good graces to resign several days later.)

Now:

After Grigoryan was arrested, in early September, four families whom he had represented in their complaints against land-developing oligarchs (including high-ranking government officials), appealed to the Ministry of Justice to allow Grigoryan to continue his defense of their claims. Their application was denied.

Quirky world, ain’t it?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people here for whom both situations make sad sense. Simply: Law means little, when its application would hinder the ambitions of the powerful. Further: Law, here (and, to be fair, in other places that might even include Mr. Schwarzenegger’s domain), is not a safeguard for the innocent, but an affordable weapon for the rich because of its manipulability.

And in Armenia, abuse of power has become so common, that it is accepted as normal.

Armenia Now’s article on the Grigoryan case can be read here, and John Hughes’ op-ed is here. And where’s the Council of Europe in all of this?

Do me a favor.

They’re silent as usual.