Pashinyan’s trial began
Editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Nikol Pashinyan is being tried at the Shengavit district's first instance court, which is the same court where the "March 1" trial began. Tens of people have gathered near the court with signs demanding Nikol's release.
Nikol Pashinyan is charged with Part 1, Article 225 of the RA Criminal Code ("organizing mass disorder") and Part 1 of Article 316 ("assault against a state representative"). The highest punishment under these articles is 10 year sentencing.
Nikol Pashinyan issued an address on the occasion of the start of the trial:
"The government that has pressed charges against me and my friends is trying to conceal the crimes that it has committed. This truth is delineated even in the materials of my case and we must emphasize this during the upcoming trial. Realizing this necessity and analyzing the past trials of my seven friends, I will follow the rules of the proceedings and deprive the authorities of the opportunity to turn content-based talks on technical issues into a scandal."
