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Verdict in Karabakh War Veteran Case Not Read Because of Judge’s No-Show

Court of First Instance of Arabkir and Kanaker-Zeytun Administrative Districts of Yerevan Judge Levon Avetisyan was to have read the verdict in the case of Karabakh War veteran, Reserve Colonel Volodya Avetisyan today. The court session, however, did not take place: as announced in the courtroom, the judge fell ill and was unable to come to court. 

In conversation with Epress.am, Karabakh War veteran Gagik Sarukhanyan said the court sessions in Avetisyan's case are always artificially prolonged. "They don't know what else to do — at one time they artificially postponed trials, did all sorts of absurdities, provided special instructions and provoked uproar in the courtroom, to be able to postpone the trial. We realized this early on and we boycotted the last court session: we didn't go inside, depriving the judge of the chance for a provocation. Now they [found] a new reason to postpone the court session: supposedly the judge abruptly fell ill, then they say it's also time for his vacation," he said.

According to Sarukhanyan, if the judge came to court today, he would be forced to read a verdict of acquittal. "If he [the judge] didn’t release him [Avetisyan], then he would have to meet the prosecutor’s demand: 6.5 years [in prison] or 5 years plus one day, so as not to apply the amnesty. This would mean an absolutely disgraceful precedent," he said. 

The war veteran said the real reason the judge didn't come to court is the wish to leave Avetisyan behind bars longer.

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.