Epress.am News from Armenia
In the case of Karabakh War veteran, Reserve Colonel Volodya Avetisyan (pictured) at the Court of First Instance of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Districts of Yerevan on Monday, Judge Levon Avetisyan denied attorney Ara Zakaryan's motion for the judge to recuse himself. Note, this the second time Avetisyan's attorney has made this motion.
Avetisyan's attorney said he is preparing material regarding the judge's actions in order to appeal to the Council of Justice, since, according to him, the judge's decision to keep his client in detention during the trial was illegal and arbitrary.
"Respectable judge, I am not preparing to obey your illegal orders; thus, if you like, you can appeal to the Chamber of Advocates for my actions, and I am convinced the Chamber will absolve me," said Zakaryan.
Later, the judge retired to the consultation room to make a decision. During that time, the war veterans, Avetisyan's other supporters and friends song a few patriotic songs in the courtroom and chanted, "Freedom!"
About an hour and 20 minutes later, the judge returned and said the court session is postponed, to which those gathered in the room responded by whistling and shouting, "You're not [the one] sitting in the prison cell, [and] that's why you're prolonging the days."
Note, Avetisyan's supporters today had decided to block the road of the car taking Avetisyan to and from the courtroom; however, upon Zakaryan's urging, they refrained from doing so, saying they've been patient for months, so they can wait a few more days.
The next court date is set for June 6 at 2:30 pm.
Recall, Avetisyan is accused of taking a $2,000 bribe. He doesn't admit to the charges; moreover, he claims the charges against him are a result of political persecution, as he was one of the organizers of regular protests by war veterans.
