ADVOCATES BOYCOTT COURT SITTINGS

A1+
[05:53 pm] 17 December, 2008

The advocates of former servicemen Razmik Sargsyan, Arayik Zalyan
and Musa Serobyan do not attend court sittings on the case of Mataghis.

Advocate Hayk Alumyan told A1+ that three judges hear the case at a
time. One of them is from Gyumri’s Northern Criminal Court and the
other two from Shirak’s First Instance Court.

The advocates have already submitted their withdrawals to the two
judges but the they turned them down showing the order of the Cassation
Court according to which they had been sent to the Northern Criminal
Court from Shirak’s First Instance Court.

"We found the order illegal and incompliant with the Constitution. So,
we protested it at the Constitution Court. The latter also recognised
the decision as anti-constitutional. Regardless of it, the judges
continue case hearing," said Hayk Alumyan.

The advocate admits that he breaches the law by his non-attendance
at court sittings. Yet he says, "I shall make a rougher breach if I
call the judges, "Your Excellencies!" We proved that we were right
but they don’t take the Court’s decision for granted. Most likely
they need the consent of their superiors or the Cassation Court."

Remind that under the indictment statutory servicemen Razmik Sargsyan,
Arayik Zalyan and Musa Serobyan are charged with the murder of
servicemen Hovsep Mkrtumyan and Roman Eghiazaryan. Court of First
Instance sentenced them to 15 years’ imprisonment and the Appellate
Court announced a verdict of life imprisonment. The Cassation Court
had remitted the case for further inquiry at the same time changing
the restraint with a written a written cognizance not to leave the
republic.

The next sitting is due on December 25.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress