The trial of second President of the RA Robert Kocharian, former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, former CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov and former Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorgyan begins today, on 14 January at the Shengavit residence of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan.

Judge Anna Danibekyan is presiding over the trial.

Khachaturov’s lawyer Mihran Poghosyan apologized and did not appear at the hearing. Prosecutor Gevorg Baghdasaryan petitioning to impose a sanction on the latter.

Danibekyan noted that the issue of sanction will be discussed in Mihran Poghosyan’s presence. The court found it impossible to continue the hearing without Khachaturov’s lawyer.

The next court hearing is scheduled for January 21.

Mihran Poghosyan on his Facebook page referred to the reasons for his absence.

“I am publicizing my application to the Court for reasons not to appear at today’s court hearing.

The court found it unnecessary to publish it and made various comments, while I clearly stated the reasons for not appearing in the application and in general, I think that every person should ponder for a moment before going to court.

P.S. I continue to be a lawyer for Mr. Yuri Khachaturov, I made a decision not to appear at this hearing just before the court hearing, and at this time I have no decision related to appearing at the next court hearing.

Yuri Khachaturov’s defender, lawyer

Mihran Poghosyan,” he stated.