Jhangiryan doesn't confide in the Appellate Court
Yerevan's Court of Criminal Appeals heard the complaint of Gagik Jhnagiryan's advocates against a March 23 decision of First Instance Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash communes.
The advocates demanded the Appellate Court to overturn the decision and release Gagik Jhnagiryan.
Let's remind that on March 23 the Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash found Gagik Jhnagiryan guilty under Article 316 (violence against a government representative) and sentenced him to a three-year imprisonment.
At the beginning of today's court sitting an argument started between Gagik Jhangiryan and Judge Arshak Khachatryan after the latter allowed reporters to shoot the trial for ten minutes.
Gagik Jhangiryan demanded the judge to account for his decision. The judge began hailing at Jhangiryan instead. Arshak Khachatryan said the defendant had no right to ask questions from his seat and threatened to impose a sanction on him.
Then minutes later, the judge shouted at the defendant and advocates in a louder voice. "Now we see why you banned shooting," Advocate Lusine Sahakyan said in reply.
Today the advocates motioned for the resignations of Judge Arshak Khachatryan and Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan but the motions were turned down after the recess.
Before the motions Gagik Jhangiryan made an announcement. He said neither the people nor him had any expectations from the court as "the latter is chained and dependent on its fear like a marionette of a theatre. I have a philosophical approach to your decision. God be with you! ," said Gagik Jhangiryan.
The court will return a verdict on May 20.
