VAHAGN CHAKHALYAN’S LAWYER NOT ALLOWED TO VISIT HIS CLIENT On August 17, Georgian-Armenian activist Vahagn Chakhalyan’s defense lawyer Stepan Voskanyan was not allowed to visit his client who is kept in detention in Rustavi prison No. 2. Prison authorities accounted for such decision by invalidity of documents authorizing Armenian lawyer to meet with Chakhalyan. The same day, Stepan Voskanyan applied to Georgian Ombudsman’s office which found prison authorities’ decision groundless, Yerkir Union of NGOs reported, according to PanArmenian.net. Along with several other documents, Voskanyan also submitted his written appeal addressed to Georgian Ombudsman Suzar Sobari and prison administration. Yerkir Union estimates the decision as successful violation of activist’s right, which aims to prevent defendant from preparing for court hearing due on September 18, 2009. Besides, by making such step, Georgian authorities also try to block Chakhalyan’s access to Armenian media reports, to which his lawyer had previously introduced him. Considering the above-mentioned, Yerkir Union calls on Georgian Ombudsman Sozar Subari, international human rights organizations and diplomatic representations accredited to Georgia to make relevant assessment on Georgian authorities’ disgraceful infringements in relation to political activist Vahagn Chakhalyan and eliminate the consequences of such step, ensuring his lawyer’s unimpeded access to the defendant. | 
