Epress.am News from Armenia
Today's trial at the Court of General Jurisdiction of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Districts of Yerevan in the case of Karabakh War veteran, Lieutenant Colonel Volodya Avetisyan, who is accused of bribery, was held behind closed doors.
Recall, at the last court session, police stood outside the courthouse steps holding metal rods, allowing only those with government-issued ID to go inside.
In conversation with Epress.am, Avetisyan's supporters, fellow war veterans, gathered outside the courthouse said that they will boycott the court session, but they will stay in the yard with signs and flags to support their friend.
"The court did not make a decision to hold the session behind closed doors; the court bailiffs are arbitrarily stating that it's closed doors because of a court decision. The judge reasons that we are obstructing the court process, but [the court] didn’t make [this] decision; otherwise, journalists also wouldn't be allowed inside," Avetisyan's supporters said.
Prior to the start of the session, Avetisyan, speaking to reporters, said the majority of his phone records presented in court are untrue, and there was no conversation between him and witness Henrik Zakaryan regarding 2 packs of coffee. Note, according to the witness' preliminary testimony, the expression "2 packs of coffee" was code for a $2,000 bribe.
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 protests by war veterans demanding better treatment and improved social conditions.