Serzh Sargsyan to be absent from court hearings during trial

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court has granted a motion filed by defence lawyer Amram Makinyan, allowing Armenia’s third president, Serzh Sargsyan, to be absent from court hearings during the examination of his criminal case. In the motion, the defence stated that Sargsyan remains at liberty, is represented by legal counsel and does not object to the proceedings continuing in his absence. According to Makinyan, the defence has already established its legal position in the case, and Sargsyan’s interests will be fully represented in court by his lawyers. “Serzh Sargsyan is in no way waiving his procedural rights or obstructing the proceedings. He will appear before the court if his presence is deemed mandatory,” Makinyan said. The court granted the motion, ruling that Sargsyan’s presence is not required during the examination of written evidence. It added that he would be summoned if the court later considers his attendance necessary. The court also granted a motion filed by Barsegh Beglaryan, owner of Flash LLC, allowing future hearings to proceed in his absence. The prosecution did not object to either motion. At the July 13 hearing, the court proceeded to the main trial stage, with the prosecution delivering its opening statement. Several criminal cases involving Sargsyan have been merged and are being examined in a single proceeding. Sargsyan is charged, among other offences, with organising the embezzlement of an especially large amount of state funds. According to the prosecution, AMD 489,160,310 allocated under a state subsidy programme in 2013 was misappropriated in connection with a diesel fuel procurement scheme. In another merged case, Sargsyan is accused of alleged abuses committed during his tenure as defence minister. According to the prosecution, 17 real estate properties on the balance sheet of the Ministry of Defence were sold to various individuals at prices substantially below market value. Sargsyan denies all the charges.