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Numerous supporters of the jailed opposition mayor of Goris, a community in Armenia’s Syunik Province, gathered outside Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

The court, presided over by judge Rubik Mkhitaryan, was set to hear a defense appeal against a lower court decision to deny bail to Mayor Arush Arushanyan.

A bloc led by Arushanyan won the 17 October local elections in Goris by a wide margin. He was installed as Goris mayor by force of law on 11 November, but remains imprisoned.

Levon Kocharyan, the son of second Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, who was among the protesters, said he did not expect that the appellate court would adopt a fair decision.

“There are no high expectations from this judge. The hard experience of the last years has shown who are courageous judges administering justice and who submit to the pressure of the authorities. In that sense, I don't pin high hopes on today's hearing," he told reporters.

In his words, such moves are important to support those who keep fighting behind bars and call people’s attention to the issue.

"This insolence has crossed all lines. The authorities are becoming more brazen amid the lack of resistance. It won't lead us to anywhere good, it's already brought us to a bad place," he said.

Levon Kocharyan stressed that while in prison, Arush Arushanyan still won a crushing victory over a pro-government candidate in the municipal elections.

"There has never been anything like this, it should be studied," he said.