Attorneys expect Kocharyan’s statement in court

YEREVAN, JANUARY 31, ARMENPRESS. Jailed ex-President Robert Kocharyan’s defense team has not yet completed presenting their complaint at the ongoing court hearing on his arrest, Kocharyan’s lawyer Hayk Alumyan told reporters.

“We still continue presenting the complaint. Robert Kocharyan is in attendance at the hearing and he hasn’t made any statement yet,” he said.

Asked why the former president has chosen to attend in person this very hearing, since he skipped a few ones before, Alumyan said because they expected the first instance court’s arrest verdict and therefore found his participation to be inexpedient.

Alumyan said Kocharyan will possibly deliver a statement if they will manage to present the complaint today. Kocharyan seeks to be released on bail.

2nd President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan, who ruled the country from 1998 to 2008, spent two weeks in jail in summer of 2018, but was eventually freed. But on December 7, a higher court overruled the release and ordered him to be remanded into custody pending trial again.

At the time the court announced the verdict, Kocharyan turned himself in to authorities.

Kocharyan is charged for ‘overthrowing constitutional order’ during the 2008 post-election unrest, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people dead, including two police officers, during his final days as president.

He vehemently denies wrongdoing.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan