Defence Lawyers Boycott Opposition Trial In Armenia

DEFENCE LAWYERS BOYCOTT OPPOSITION TRIAL IN ARMENIA

Public Television of Armenia
March 16 2009

[Presenter] Today, none of the [defence] lawyers attended the trial
into the case of the seven [opposition members charged with organizing
March 2008 post-election riots]. Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, who was
chairing the trial, made public the statement by lawyer Hovik Arsenyan
which said the lawyers refuse to participate in the trial. The court
regarded the lawyers’ absence without good reason and without the
judge’s permission as disrespect towards the court and asked the
Chamber of Lawyers to impose judicial sanction. The court hearing
has been postponed to 23 March.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS