EXAMINATION OF POSTELECTION CASES IN PROCESS

YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. The court of Yerevan’s Shengavit
community (chairman – Judge Gagik Poghosian) on April 25 started
examination of Isahak Malkhasian’s case. I. Malkhasian is charged with
violence against a representative of the authorities and illegal
carrying of cold steel, gas or dart weapon. I. Malkhasian is brother of
National Assembly deputy Myasnik Malkhasian charged with instigation of
mass disorder combined with murder and usurpation of state power.

Two policemen of the Shengavit police station – Armen Babayan and Gagik
testified in court. They said that I. Malkhsian did not obey their
demand, refused to give a key to examine his car, started a scuffle,
and finally policemen found two wooden batons and a metal rod in his
car. The defendant said that what was said is not true and that the
witnesses have no relation to the fact of his being taken to the police
station. A third witness will testify at the court sitting scheduled
for April 29, the defendant is also likely to give evidence on April 29.

The court of Yerevan’s Kentron and Nork-Marash communities (chairman –
Judge Yerem Yesoyan) on April 25 made a decision, by which Armen
Avagian was found guilty of committing violence against a
representative of authorities early March 1 and was sentenced to 18
months’ imprisonment.

The court sitting on the case of Hamlet Abrahamian charged with a crime
envisaged by the same article of the Criminal Code was not held due to
the absence of defence lawyer Inessa Petrosian. During the examination
of the case of dismissed majors of the National Security Service (NSS)
Tigran Melkonian and Levon Khachatrian in the same court (chairman –
Judge Gagik Avetisian), a decision was made to hold a closed-door trial
not to make public state secrets. To recap, the indicated dismissed
officers of NSS are charged with a crime envisaged by the CC Article
306 part 1 – divulging a state secret.