The court hearing in the “March 1” case involving Robert Kocharyan, Seyran Ohanyan, Yuri Khachaturov, and Armen Gevorgyan continued today, April 21, at the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court.

According to Iravaban.net, the session was adjourned for 5 minutes, after which the judge removed a journalist from Yerevan.Today news site from the courtroom.

-Respected journalists, do we have someone from Yerevan.Today?

-That’s me.

-Stand up.

-Do they prompt you every time when writing headlines? Do they suggest what headlines to write?

-Do you think we can’t work independently like you?

-What do you mean?

-I mean, if you’re accusing me that perhaps someone prompts me what headlines to write, I could have the same opinion about you – thinking that someone prompts you how to conduct a trial.

-Leave the courtroom.

After the journalist left, the judge justified what happened by saying that his staff had shown him and noted emphases each time.

“They also told me which media outlet it belongs to, I didn’t even know. But one cannot try every time in this or that way… let’s not elaborate. Well, let me say – each time there is an emphasis on ‘former CP judge.’ If you have something to say, say it like a man. If you want to express a recusal, express your recusal,” the judge said.

Advocate Aram Orbelyan said that the judge’s statement implies he has a conviction that the advocates discussed article headlines with the journalist.

“To make such a claim, we need to have grounds. The mere fact that a specific media outlet has a positive or negative attitude toward certain political forces does not provide grounds to assume that specific individuals are censoring the media outlet,” noted the advocate.

Advocate Lusine Sahakyan, addressing the incident, emphasized that the court is violating publicity.

“Moreover, you are restricting freedom of speech, which you have no right to do. Furthermore, the defense side can communicate with journalists, has the right to communicate, and in some cases, it is mandatory to communicate. I found that article, the journalist wrote ‘Let us remind you that the judge is a former CP member.’ Aren’t you a former CP member?” noted Lusine Sahakyan.

The judge asked who doesn’t know that he was a member of the “Civil Contract” party for two months.

Lusine Sahakyan said that she would pursue this issue with the judge until the end of the case and beyond.

Details in the video.