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Robert Kocharyan goes on trial

The trial of former President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and other ex-officials in the March 1 case has begun May 13th at the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction’s Avan and Nor Nork courthouse.

Robert Kocharyan goes on trial

STEPANAKERT, MAY 13,  ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The trial is public. Kocharyan, who was President of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, is personally in the courtroom. 
Because the defendant is currently jailed, by law the court has to first examine whether or not the detention is justified and then only continue to the case itself. 40 minutes into the hearing the Judge Davit Grigoryan called for a 5-minute break.
The March 1 case refers to the 2008 post-presidential election unrest in Yerevan when eight protesters and two security officers were killed in clashes during large demonstrations against alleged vote rigging. Kocharyan was the outgoing president at that time. He is accused of unlawfully ordering the military to interfere and disperse the protests.
Prosecutor General Arthur Davtyan was seated on the prosecution’s side in court.
Kocharyan’s youngest son Levon was seated in the fully-packed gallery.
Robert Kocharyan is charged with “overthrowing Constitutional order” and “accepting particularly large bribe”.
Other indicted officials are: ex-Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan (overthrowing Constitutional order). In 2008 Ohanyan served as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces; Yuri Khachaturov (overthrowing Constitutional order). In 2008, Khachaturov was the Deputy Minister of Defense; Armen Gevorgyan (conspiracy to overthrow Constitutional order, accepting particularly large bribe and money laundering). Gevorgyan served as Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration. Gevorgyan’s most recent government position was Deputy Prime Minister.
Yuri Khachaturov is an Armenian general who served as Secretary General of the CSTO until being recalled by Armenia for criminal proceedings in 2018.
They all deny wrongdoing.

     

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