The closing arguments continued in the trial court of the Malatya-Sebastia administrative districts presided by Judge Karen Farkhoyan. Tigran and Lianna Grigoryan, counselors of the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 73-year-old resident of Tabriz Sargez Noyuk Andounian and his driver Vigen Shasha Novasardian, moved for a two-workday delay to prepare for the closing arguments. The citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran are accused of attempting to transport narcotics across Armenia to other countries. As we have informed,
putting 90 kg of heroin in a piano and toy ovens, they had easily passed through customs. Vardan Martirosyan who had worked for the Zvartnots airport for 2 years and wasn’t aware of the “cargo” was to process them at the airport. Sergey Mkrtchyan, Vardan Martirosyan’s attorney and a member of the Bar of the Republic of Armenia, said that he was ready for the closing argument and started it with saying that this criminal case should be assessed by generations to come. Then he transformed his brief speech into a motion to restart the examination and to call Vardan Martirosyan for additional questioning. He said that his client’s testimony coul have a significant impact. By the way, the parties in the trial, even Aram Amirzadyan, the prosecutor of the Attorney General’s Office, didn’t object to this motion, whereas the representative of the prosecution, prosecutor Aram Amirzadyan, had already delivered his closing arguments and requested to condemn Sargez Andounian to 15 years in prison, Vigen Novasardian to 13 years in prison, and Vardan Martirosyan, a citizen of the Republic of Armenia, to 12 years in prison. Judge Karen Farkhonyan said that the motion to resume the examination will be considered after the speeches of the other defendants’ counselors are delivered. The next court session is scheduled for May 6.
Ruzan MINASYAN
