NSS Investigator Attempts to Seize Lawyer's Computers: Bar Association

An investigator from the National Security Service (NSS) is attempting to seize two computers from the law office of lawyer Hovhannes Chamsaryan. Representatives from the Bar Association, along with other lawyers, are present at the lawyer's office and are preventing the seizure of the computers, as reported by the Bar Association's press service.

It is worth noting that according to Article 21, parts 6 and 7 of the Armenian Law on Advocacy:

• The residence, vehicle, or office of a lawyer, as well as the office of a legal organization, cannot be searched in connection with the clarification of circumstances related to legal activities.
• A lawyer cannot be searched while directly carrying out professional duties.
• Documents and information carriers (computers, audio-visual recording devices, laser discs, videotapes, etc.) related to legal assistance that are in the possession of a lawyer or a legal organization’s office are inviolable and cannot be seized or used as evidence.

The office of the Human Rights Defender has announced that a rapid response group from the Human Rights Defender's staff has been dispatched to the aforementioned law office.