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Opposition lawmaker Armen Gevorgyan, who is a member of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on Tuesday criticized the court decision to ban him from travelling to Strasbourg to take part in the PACE autumn session.

This is the first visit of Armenia’s new delegation to the PACE and as a result of judge Anna Danibekyan's decision, the opposition is not represented in the organization, the Armenia faction MP told reporters.

He said he had planned to raise the issue of Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) at a Q&A session with the secretary general of the organization.

“What is the Council of Europe doing for them to return home as soon as possible? I also planned to hand over two reports of Armenia's ombudsman on the subject to parliamentarians. I am virtually deprived of that opportunity, of a chance to hold discussions with the CoE members on the ground,” Gevorgyan said.

The MP stated the court hearing in his trial could have been postponed for him to leave for Strasbourg just as it was postponed for the judge to attend training courses.

"This judicial process is taking place in conditions of inadequacy. What is the reason for it? I have some doubts, but let me refrain from talking about them right now,” he said.

In Gevorgyan’s words, this is the second time the court has not allowed him to make a statement.