"Court simply denies Shant's access to court trials"
Judge Mnatskan Martirosyan today decided to discontinue the case against defendant Shant Harutyunyan by the time the court gets the results of medical examination.
The hearing on the case against prominent opposition figures will continue without detainee Shant Harutyunyan. The Judge's decision made the other six defendants furious. In particular, Armenia's ex FM Alexander Arzumanyan announced: "Judge Martirosyan has taken on new responsibilities and makes a diagnosis." The defendants say Shant Harutyunyan is simply denied access to the court sitting.
Today's trial got off to a tense start, with Voskerchyan's lawyer, Stepan Voskanyan, demanding the resignation of the presiding judge, Mnatsakan Martirosyan. The lawyer says Judge Martirosyan ignores the fact that his client, Grigor Voskerchyan, was beaten up in Yerevan's Nubarashen prison shortly before the hearing in the controversial trial. The motion was supported by other advocates. Only the trial prosecutor, Koryun Piloyan, spoke against the motion. A recess was announced shortly afterwards.
Remind that the seven oppositionists are accused of attempting to bring down the government following the February 19 presidential elections.
