A1+
IS JUDGE WAITING FOR PACE DECISION?
[08:14 pm] 16 January, 2009
Today Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan adjourned the trial of seven
Armenian opposition figures, known as `the case against seven.’
The Judge noted the defendants’ misbehaviour during the previous court
sittings and their disrespect for law and scheduled the next hearing
for by January 30. Today A1+ asked Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan to
comment on the Judge’s decision but Mr. Piloyan declined to say
anything. `How long can an offended court adjourn trials?’ he
observed. Asked who insults the court, Piloyan said: `I don’t
know. Ask me no more questions.’ Then he left the courtroom with the
court escort.
Today the court escort did its best to prevent the defendants’ contact
with their relatives.
Armenian MP Zaruhy Postanjyan thinks the adjournment of the trial till
the PACE January session is not accidental. `The Court has appeared in
a deadlock and is uncertain as to how to proceed with the court
ruling. The Court is well aware that the indictment is unfounded,’
Mrs. Postanjyan said to A1+.
Referring to the authorities’ statement that the opposition is excited
at the thought that the Monitoring Committee may suspend Armenia’s
voting right at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe,
the Heritage MP said: `The March 1 events were a real tragedy. The
death of close relatives, imprisonment of innocent people and
appliance of torture cannot arouse excitement.’
People waiting in the court yard flew into a range after learning the
Judge’s decision. `Shame on you! Freedom!’ the crowd kept shouting.
The number of policemen guarding the court building trebled in a
trice. They chained the presentees dividing the crowd into three
parts. They forced people off the site elbowing women and
children. Representatives of the Armenian National Congress tried to
calm down the indignant crowd saying no one had a right to exert
pressure on them and drive them away.
It is due to mention that the police not only pushed and beat the
presentees but also railed at them.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress