On 17 April, a preliminary court session, presided by Judge Rudolph Avagyan, was held in the Anti-Corruption Court in the case of confiscation of property of allegedly illicit origin of the former Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer, former Deputy of the National Assembly, Mihran Poghosyan and 7 people related to him.
According to Iravaban.net Poghosyan’s representative made a motion, saying that since they had asked the court to provide the calculations in the previous session in order to study and clarify unclear calculations, these calculations were provided to them on Friday, there was too little time to study, and the calculations extensive.
According to him, opportunity to get completely familiarize with them should be given, to work out their steps; he asked to provide a reasonable time so that they could further clarify the content of the basis and subject of the claim.
Gagik Badalyan’s representative, lawyer Artur Hovhannisyan said that at the previous session he asked for these calculations to be presented to them, but they did not receive those at all.
Prosecutor Tigran Yenokyan said that at the previous court session, an agreement was reached to provide the calculations only to Mihran Poghosyan and the lawyers representing his interest, that’s why it was provided only to them, and if Badalyan’s representatives also want it, they can take it from the court.
“The party correctly mentioned that, the information presented in the working file is extensive, and since there are no questions that can be dealt with in one session, maybe it will be appropriate to exhaust a certain group of questions regarding certain years and we can continue at the next court session. It was sent with a little delay, because the working file I have, had to be compared with the files of Mr. Karapetyan, and Mr. Karapetyan was on vacation, he was not in Armenia,” the prosecutor noted.
Artur Hovhannisyan said that he does not remember and cannot imagine whether the court would have said to present it only the representatives of one side, and do not present the representative of the defendant. “If there is a case that you have independently submitted material to the representatives of the party, I should have the same equal rights, we are talking about the equality of arms here, I should not go to court, receive something that the other representative received from the party itself, I am asking, to let the attitude towards the representatives of Gagik Badalyan be the same as the attitude towards the representatives of Mihran Poghosyan.”
Tigran Yenokyan said that the party asked for the electronic version to be provided in order to facilitate the work, they agreed, and if there is a desire to receive it, they can get it from the court. “I thought that you and the legal team could even take it from each other internally.”
Artur Hovhannisyan said that there is no team, there are different people, and a conflict of interests may arise. “Could Mihran Poghosyan one day say, ‘That property was mine,’ Gagik Badalyan would say, ‘Why? It was mine, or vice versa?’ we have a conflict of interest.”
Mihran Poghosyan’s representative said that all of them were equal respondents; each of them has their own position.
The other representative of Mihran Poghosyan also mentioned regarding the calculations that it is necessary to postpone the session in order to get to familiarize with the materials in full and express their positions.
Prosecutor Tigran Yenokyan said that he can send the file electronically to Hovhannisyan based on work relations, but he has no such obligation to send it to all parties under any circumstances.
The representatives of the responding party stated that they do not have any motions yet.
The court session was postponed. The next court session is on 21 May.
Mariam Shahnazaryan
