4.  The applicant was born in 1981 and lives in Yerevan. 5.  On an unspecified date criminal proceedings were instituted in respect of the applicant on account of fraud and burglary under Article 177 § 2 (3) and (4) and Article 178 § 1 of the Criminal Code. 6.  On 15 February 2007 formal charges were brought against the applicant. It appears that the applicant was considered to be in hiding and a search was initiated. 7.  On the same date the Ararat Regional Court examined and granted the investigator’s motion seeking to have the applicant placed in pre-trial detention. This decision was based on the nature and degree of dangerousness of the incriminated acts and on the fact that the applicant was in hiding and was capable of hindering the investigation by exerting unlawful pressure on the parties to the proceedings. Detention was imposed for a period of two months to be calculated from the moment of the applicant’s arrest. 8.  On 13 April 2007 the applicant was arrested and taken to the Ararat Police Department where he was informed about the decision of 15 February 2007. The applicant was then taken to Nubarashen detention facility. 9.  On 31 May 2007 the applicant filed a motion with the Ararat Regional Court seeking to be released on bail. The applicant submitted at the outset that the Regional Court, despite the requirement of Article 137 § 4 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP) (see paragraph 29 below), had failed to address the question of his release on bail in its decision of 15 February 2007. He further argued that the fact that he was not eligible under the law for release on bail because of the gravity of the charges was in contradiction with the requirements of Article 5 § 3 of the Convention. He requested the court to apply the requirements of the Convention and to release him, arguing that he had never been in hiding. The applicant alleged that prior to his arrest he had been out of town for business and that he had never been informed of the criminal proceedings against him. He finally argued that he had not been brought before a judge following his arrest, as required by Article 5 § 3 of the Convention. 10.  On 5 June 2007 the investigation was completed. 11.  On 8 June 2007 the Ararat Regional Court examined the motion of 31 May 2007. The Regional Court noted at the outset, with reference to Article 5 § 3 of the Convention, that the norms of international law prevailed over domestic law and therefore the question of the applicant’s release on bail was to be considered. The Regional Court, however, decided to refuse the applicant’s request for release, finding that there was a risk of the applicant absconding and thereby evading liability and punishment in view of the fact that he had earlier been in hiding. This decision was subject to appeal within fifteen days. 12.  On the same date the bill of indictment was finalised. 13.  On 12 June 2007 the criminal case was transmitted to the Ararat Regional Court for examination. 14.  On 13 June 2007 the applicant’s detention period authorised by the decision of 15 February 2007 expired. 15.  On 15 June 2007 the applicant lodged an appeal against the decision of 8 June 2007. He also applied to the chief of Nubarashen detention facility and requested that he be released, since the authorised detention period had expired on 13 June 2007. 16.  On the same date Judge Y. of the Ararat Regional Court decided to take over the applicant’s criminal case. 17.  By a letter of 18 June 2007 the chief of Nubarashen detention facility refused the applicant’s request to be released, on the ground that the case had been transmitted to the Regional Court. 18.  On 29 June 2007 the applicant lodged an appeal against this refusal with the Erebuni and Nubarashen District Court of Yerevan, arguing that his continued detention was unlawful. 19.  On 2 July 2007 Judge Y. decided to set the applicant’s criminal case down for trial, scheduling a hearing for 12 July 2007. This decision stated that it was not necessary to modify or cancel the applicant’s detention. 20.  On 6 July 2007 the Criminal Court of Appeal, referring to Chapter 39 of the CCP which prescribes the rules of judicial control over pre-trial proceedings, decided to leave the applicant’s appeal of 15 June 2007 unexamined on the ground that the pre-trial proceedings had already been completed. 21.  On 12 July 2007 the Erebuni and Nubarashen District Court of Yerevan dismissed the applicant’s appeal of 29 June 2007, finding that the refusal to release him had been lawful and in compliance with Article 138 of the CCP. 22.  On 27 July 2007 the applicant lodged an appeal against this decision. 23.  On 2 August 2007 the applicant filed a motion with the Ararat Regional Court seeking to be released. 24.  On the same date the Ararat Regional Court examined and dismissed this motion. The Regional Court found that the applicant’s detention after 13 June 2007 was justified under Article 138 § 3 of the CCP (see paragraph 31 below), while his detention after 2 July 2007 was authorised by the court’s decision of the same date. 25.  On 22 August 2007 the Criminal Court of Appeal dismissed the applicant’s appeal of 27 July 2007 on the same grounds as the District Court.