Epress.am News from Armenia
The trial of opposition war veteran Zhirair Sefilyan accused of planning a coup against the Armenian government began on Friday amid a very tense atmosphere; the spectators, who were separated from the trial participants by a glass wall, welcomed Sefilyan and the other six defendants with loud cheers and applause, chanting “Zhirair, Zhirair!”, “Death to the regime!”, and “Freedom!”.
Recall, Sefilyan, leader of the opposition Founding Parliament movement, was arrested in June 2016 for having allegedly formed an armed group and plotting to organize an armed takeover of Yerevan’s important communication and government buildings. For that purpose, Armenia’s law enforcement authorities insist, the oppositionist had organized an illegal acquisition and transport of weapons and ammunition and their storage in various locations in Yerevan. Sefilyan and his supporters, however, claim that he is being persecuted for his political views, namely, for opposing territorial concessions to Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
At the beginning of the hearing, the spectators – the defendants’ family members and allies – demanded that the microphones at the courtroom were turned on, since it was impossible to hear the trial participants on the other side of the wall. The demand, however, was only fulfilled when presiding judge Tatevik Grigoryan decided to adjourn the hearing as the lawyers of several of the suspects were absent. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 13.
Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Sefilyan’s lawyer Tigran Hayrapetyan claimed that the hearing was held according to a pre-planned scenario: “There was an impression that the judge had been told to come, quickly read out her opening statement and adjourn the hearing. But even in this case, we, the lawyers, also had to be given the opportunity to make statements and comment on the absence of the other lawyers. All our rights were violated [by the judge].”
The lawyer further insisted that Sefilyan’s arrest was a result of political persecution by the Armenian authorities: “It all began when after the 2016 April war Sefilyan disclosed that Armenia had lost 700 hectares of territory. He first began being harassed by multiple parties, then a well-known [Armenia] TV aired a discrediting material on Sefilyan, and a week later Sefilyan was arrested.”
The investigative body, Hayrapetyan continued, has failed to prove Sefilyan in fact committed the acts he is accused of. The charge, the lawyer is convinced, is fabricated and is not supported by any evidence.
“This is what happened: two people ‘accidentally’ got into an accident, during which the driver wanted to take a cardboard box out of the car and a rifle fell to the ground. It just so happens that officers of the patrol and guard service regiment were standing that right at that moment; they immediately discovered the weapon, and these people testified that Sefilyan had something to do with this weapon. Afterwards, without having any proof, the Special Investigative Service announced that Sefilyan had an armed group of 300 people and was planning an armed revolution.
“And what’s more, at first it was claimed that Sefilyan planned to take over the television tower on December 1, but now the indictment says the alleged attack was scheduled for May 1. But even if Sefilyan did indeed plan to lead an armed group into a revolt, where are these people and why aren’t they being arrested? Why aren’t the two men who were discovered with the weapons being accused of the same acts as Sefilyan? Because they had to testify again Sefilyan,” Tigran Hayrapetyan stated.