12 February 2009, 22:00
In Armenia, trial on "Case of Seven" postponed till February 26
The trial of Armenian oppositionists, known as the "Case of Seven", is postponed till February 26. The judge motivated his decision by the fact that after the start of the session the defendants refused to take their seats.
The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, who is chairing the process, addressed each of the defendants by name and explained that they were obliged to follow the instruction of the Judge and take their places.
"I've been sitting for 12 months already, and now I want to keep standing a bit," said Alexander Arzumanyan, one of the defendants and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs; and then he asked the Judge to quote the Article of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which stipulates that defendants should stay sitting during the judicial session.
The Judge continued insisting that defendants shall obey to his commands in the courtroom, and then postponed the session.
Ovik Orsenyan, advocate of defendant Sasun Mikaelyan, told journalists that Martirosyan's decision was illegitimate, since there is no Article in the Code that defendants should stay sitting during the judicial session.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan Source: CK correspondent
