Advocates call for prosecutor's resignation
The trial of Nikol Pashinian, the editor-in-chief of Haykakan Zhamanak daily and a leading opposition figure, today resumed with advocates' motion for Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan's resignation.
"Piloyan and his colleagues keep the materials of last March clashes in their drawers and compose trumped-up criminal cases, I demand that Piloyan abandon the case," said Nikol Pashinian accused of organizing last year's deadly clashes in Yerevan between security forces and opposition protesters.
Pashinian's Advocate Lusine Sahakian reminded that Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan had headed the group of prosecutors investigating the criminal cases on election fraud and violations of the 2008 disputed presidential election.
"Even the pre-trial body admitted that the criminal cases were the outcome of the rigged election. If Piloyan couldn't handle the case of election frauds, he cannot display a biased approach on this case. He must turn over the case to another prosecutor," said Lusine Sahakian.
"The motion for the resignation is groundless and is subject to rejection," said accusant Harutiun Harutiunian.
The court retired to discuss the motion.
Remind that yesterday after two-hour deliberations Judge Mnatsakan Martirosian rejected the advocates' motion for the judge's resignation accusing the defense of putting undue pressure on the court.
