HE COULDN’T SAY "ROBERT KOCHARYAN"
/03/4/court
09:27 pm | March 04, 2010
Politics
The section reading "Facts confirmed by the court" in the verdict
of the first instance court of Kentron and Nork-Marash districts
sentencing editor-in-chief of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily Nikol
Pashinyan start with the following text: "Serzh Sargsyan won in the
RA presidential elections held on February 19, 2008."
During today’s examination of his protest at the Appeals Court, the
judge didn’t like NIkol Pashinyan’s the reference to this statement.
In general, the Appeals Court headed by judge Serzhik Avetisyan
prohibited Pashinyan from using the words "Robert Kocharyan, Serzh
Sargsyan, Sashik Sargsyan, Samvel Alexanyan, assassins, oligarchs
and shaved-heads".
Not paying attention to that, Nikol Pashinyan continued: "I am
charged with the murders that took place on March 1. Everyone knows
that Robert Kocharyan gave the command to open fire on March 1. The
government needed as much verdicts for March 1 as possible. Serzh
Sargsyan didn’t collect as much votes during the February 19 elections
as the verdicts on March 1 were reached.
Today, for nearly 4 hours, Nikol Pashinyan literally interpreted the
sentencing verdict and substantiated that he had nothing to do with
the mass disturbances that took place near Myasnikyan statue on March
1, 2008. Pashinyan underlined that his verdict stated the actions
by Alexander Arzumanyan, Sasun Mikayelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan and
representatives of the opposition who were sentenced by the "Case of
Seven", but Pashinyan’s speeches were found in the case. "According
to the verdict against me, I am the commander of Commanders Sasun
Mikayelyan, Myasnik Malkhasyan and Hakob Hakobyan. That is a great
honor for me, but such a formulation is ridiculous."
Pashinyan also recalled that not only the Pan-National Movement, but
presidential candidate from "Orinats Yerkir" party Artur Baghdasaryan
and ARF candidate Vahan Hovhannisyan were also displeased with the
results of the February 19 presidential elections and had openly
announced that. "Why are they in liberty?" asked Pashinyan, adding
that the leaders of the pan-national movement, as well as him, did
not motivate anybody to violence and did not instill hatred. "The
government instilled hatred in the people through their actions."
Judge Serzhik Avetisyan removed journalist Liza Tchagharyan and Sargis
Kloyan-father of victim of March 1 Gor Kloyan-from the courtroom for
applauding Pashinyan. Before getting out of the courtroom, the father
of the victim managed to say: "You are committing a bigger crime by
concealing the assassins. You are sentencing an innocent person. You
will all be brought to justice."
Two of the three judges of the Appeals Court, including Serzhik
Avetisyan and Arshak Khachatryan, were talking together throughout
Nikol Pashinyan’s speech. When Pashinyan interrupted their discussion
to draw their attention, Arshak Khachatryan said: "You are ignoring
us and not looking at us. You say, ‘dear judge’, but turn toward the
courtroom. That is why we are talking to each other." "You can even
play cards if you like," said Pashinyan.
Pashinyan will continue his remarks in the next trial. Although
Pashinyan informed that tomorrow the Constitutional Court will
hear Pashinyan’s claim for recognizing the results of the January
10 elections at precinct #10 as invalid and that his presence was
mandatory, the Appeals Court set the next trial for tomorrow and at
the same time-11 a.m.