Witness's house chained
The police have chained the house of Tatul Karapetian, the witness for MP Sasun Mikaelian, one of the seven well-known supporters of opposition leader Levon Ter-Petrosian who were recently cleared of controversial coup charges stemming from the March 2008 clashes in Yerevan.
The house of Karapetian's sister is also controlled by policemen.
The police say they want to ensure the witness's safety and keep him away from Mikaelian's proponents.
But Tatul says the police began "to take care of him" after he decided to give credible testimony in the court.
Tatul Karapetian says his pretrial testimony doesn't correspond with reality and is a total lie.
I have nothing in common with Sasun Mikaelian. I was constantly told at the prosecutor's office not to show up in the court. Their words raised doubt in me.
"After I was taken to the prosecutor's office I read my testimony. Nothing was true in it. I threw it away immediately. I said I hadn't born such evidence, they had forged my handwriting. I remembered all I had put down quite well," says Tatul Karapetian.
Yesterday the witness was not given an opportunity to bear testimony at a Kotayk court.
Tatul Karapetian is going to appeal to the Human Rights Defender.
The next court hearing on the case of Sasun Mikaelian is scheduled for May 18.
