The trial court of Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts considers the case of Armenian National Congress (ANC) activist Vardges Gaspari, a member of The Army in Reality initiative, who told former Chief of Police of the Republic of Armenia Alik Sargsyan, “Sargsyan, hooligan” straight to his face during an incident that took place outside the Government House on October 20, 2011.
Judge Mkhitar Papoyan became familiar with Gasparyan’s personal data first, after which the defense filed a motion challenging the prosecutor. According to the defense, the investigator was supposed to interview the witnesses, which he hadn’t done and part of the testimonies was not represented in the indictment. Vardges Gaspari stated that detective A. Manukyan concealed in the indictment the testimonies of case witnesses Lala Aslikyan, Lena Nazaryan, Sona Ayvazyan and did not interrogate witnesses Levon Barseghyan Artur Sakunts and Zaruhi Postanjyan. According to Gaspari, detective A. Manukyan avoided referring to publications in mass media. “The supervising prosecutor also turned a blind eye to the fact of lying by the investigator and obviously concealed a crime,” stated Vardges Gaspari, explaining why he shouted out “hooligan,” “criminal.” According to him, Alik Sargsyan pushed one of the protesters and tore a poster.
Counselor Robert Revazyan stated that one could conclude from what his defendant had said that the prosecutor had shown negligence, which made them think that the prosecutor had shown biased attitude in that case.
The prosecution, prosecutor Armen Aftandyan stated that he did not agree with the defense, the motion was groundless and should be overruled, since no procedural violation was found. Now the court is in the conference room to discuss the motion, the session will resume at 5.30pm.
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Details will be presented a bit later.
Lusine KHACHATRYAN
