“There is no need for further inquiry”
The Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash Administrative Districts chaired by Judge Arayik Melkumyan made an unexpected decision on May 5: the court decided to remit the case "Kocharian vs. Zhamanak for further examination although the judge was expected to read out the verdict.
In an interview with A1+, Nikolay Baghdasaryan, a representative of Zhamanak daily, condemned the court decision saying the court has thoroughly studied the material and evidence and there was no need for new inquiry.
"It means that the court has not come to an agreement with the plaintiff," said Baghdasaryan. He stressed that the claim was submitted with the violation of terms.
In a series of articles published in September, 2010, "Zhamanak" daily claimed that Kocharian is involved in lucrative imports of pharmaceuticals and owns a chain of drug stores through his wife Bella. Citing an unnamed source, it also alleged that Kocharian's elder son Sedrak has purchased a diamond mine in India.
Kocharian and his family members dismissed the reports as a fraud through the ex-president's spokesman and legal counsels. They sued the paper for defamation of character, demanding 6 million drams in compensatory damages.
The court sitting is set for May 20.
