Verdict is already predetermined
"This trial against the newspaper is only aimed at silencing the newspaper and declaring the publisher bankrupt."
"Why is judge Arayik Melkumyan turning me into a tool for wicked forces? My petition is a chance for you to free yourselves from this horrible regime," said advocate Tigran Atanesyan during today's hearing on the file against "Haykakan Zhamanak" newspaper.
Atanesyan filed a challenge petition today and according to him, the trial against the newspaper is aimed at shutting the newspaper down and declaring the publisher bankrupt.
"We knew that this was the scenario for the trial. The verdict is already predetermined and it completely meets the demands of the appeal. That verdict is going to become a precedent and a serious tool for the regime to demolish the free press. I declare that nobody will be able to silence free speech," declared advocate Atanesyan adding that he has no hopes with the "assassin judges and doesn't have any illusions." Judge Melkumyan applied a sanction against the advocate for this and a number of other expressions stated in the challenge petition.
The trial against the newspaper began after the February 6 publication about Robert Kocharyan's younger son Levon according to which Levon Kocharyan was arrested in Dubai for getting drunk and misbehaving. The Kocharyans demand the newspaper edition to deny the information and compensate the 16 million 120 thousand drams in damages. The judge will announce the verdict on June 5 at 5 p.m.
