ARMENIA: DEFENSE LAWYERS BOYCOTT THE TRIAL OF ACCUSED OPPOSITION LEADERS
EurasiaNet
March 18 2009
NY
Defense lawyers refused to appear at the March 17 trial of seven
opposition leaders accused of masterminding last year’s deadly riots
in Armenia. Describing the hearings as "farcical," the attorneys
accused Judge Mnatsakan Martirosian of bias against the defendants
and of violating court procedures.
In response, Yerevan District Judge Maritosian ordered administrative
punishment of lawyers Liparit Simonian, Malanya Arustumian and Vardui
Elbakian, the A1plus news agency reported.
Court hearings have been repeatedly postponed following heated
arguments between defendants, lawyers and Maritosian. The next hearing
date has been set for March 23.
The defendants — parliamentarians Myasnik Malkhasian, Akop Akopian,
Sasun Mikaelian, former Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian, former
interior ministry security chief Suren Sirunian, former Abovian Mayor
Grigor Voskerchian, and opposition politician Shant Arutyunian — are
supporters of opposition leader and ex-President Levon Ter-Petrosian.