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“CASE OF SEVEN” TRIAL POSTPONED FOR RESPECTING THE COURT/VIDEO/

Politics


“We haven’t insulted you yet,” said today former Foreign Minister accused of the “Case of Seven” Alexander Arzumanyan to Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan who was entering the court.


All seven opposition members accused of the “Case of Seven” rose to their feet and expressed willingness to remain standing throughout the trial to underscore their respect towards the court and finally get on with the legal proceedings.


It didn’t matter whether the political prisoners rose to their feet or not because Judge Martirosyan postponed the trial to February 26 for rising and not sitting down.


Before announcing the postponement, Martirosyan started clearing things up for the political prisoners regarding their actions.


Miasnik Malkhasyan warned the judge that they still haven’t committed any actions and there is no reason to clear things up.


“If you mean the norm according to which we must stand, I must say that there is no norm stating that we must sit down,” said Alexander Arzumanyan.


In response to the political prisoners’ refusal to sit down, Judge Martirosyan started pinning down the consequences of not fulfilling his demands.


The political prisoners warned the judge that his orders must be reasonable. Seeing that Martirosyan is planning to postpone the “Case of Seven” trial again, the political prisoners addressed the relatives of the 10 victims and said that they are standing up in memory of the victims and so the trial will finally start.


“I only feel guilty for not being able to protect my people when they were being slaughtered right in front of my eyes on the morning of March 1. They killed innocent young people. You forget that there are commanders among us. What you have done for this country is nothing compared to what we have done,” said Sasun Mikayelyan to the judge.


The judge was a little softer to Hakob Hakobyan who came to court barely standing. However, the judge changed his mood when Hakob Hakobyan told him to get on with the trial and stop treating the prisoners like slaves.


Martirosyan did not like political prisoner Grigor Voskerchyan’s speech from the start and interrupted him.


“Standing up does not mean that I respect the court. You didn’t care about the previous trials or the fact that I have been beaten in the penitentiary. I don’t respect the court or justice,” said Voskerchyan.


Alexander Arzumanyan proposed to Martirosyan to state the reason for postponing the trial.


“I am postponing the trial for showing emphasized respect towards the court.” The judge simply announced the decision and left without stating the reasons and the deadline.