GYUMRI CITY HALL VS. CHAP LLC: ATTORNEY OF CITY HALL WHISPERED TO THE JUDGE
Lragir
Dec 11 2007
Armenia
On November 23 the City Hall of Gyumri filed a suit against Chap LLC,
owner of Gala TV of Gyumri, at the Economic court of Armenia, for
removing the transmission equipment of Gala TV from the transmission
tower which belongs to the City Hall.
The hearing started December 10 at the Gyumri residence of the Economic
Court. In the beginning of the hearing Justice Edward Nahapetyan
asked the sides if they have a plan of reconciliation. The council for
defense Karen Tumanyan offered to let the transmission tower to Chap
LLC for 6 months, but the prosecution declined. Then Karen Tumanyan
made a counter-claim for involuntary servitude on the transmission
tower and 26.04 sq m of land. The judge declined the counter-claim
and the appeal against the judge.
During the adjournment the reporters asked why the City Hall does
not demand the rent of the tower for the past 2,5 years, the head of
the legal department of the City Hall Ara Sargsyan, the attorney of
the City Hall, said: "It is our fault." Meanwhile, V. Khachatryan,
founder of Chap LLC says it was not done because of the lack of legal
grounds, and the City Hall believes that the claim would be declined
because the City Hall did not set any condition or fee for rental
because the tower was not the property of the City Hall.
The next hearing started at midday on December 11. The Judge said
the appeal against him had been declined and the same justice would
hear the case. After the second appeal of Karen Tumanyan Justice
Nahapetyan adjourned the hearing for an hour and on returning to the
courtroom stated that the solicitation was declined. The advocate
asked if the judge made a decision and the judge answered no. Nobody
understood why the judge had adjourned the hearing if he did not make
a decision. After the second appeal the justice closed the hearing
and after consulting the attorney of the City Hall of Gyumri in a
whisper stated that the next hearing would be on December 13.
After the hearing the judge tried to have a talk with Karen Tumanyan
about the appeal regarding "his close relations with Mayor Vardan
Ghukasyan". The reporter of Gala TV noticed this and switched on the
camera. The attorney of the City Hall Ara Sargsyan prompted to the
judge in a whisper that the camera was on. Justice Nahapetyan concluded
his conversation with the words "I am happy that the attorney thinks
the mayor and I are friends."