06.10.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The testimony of the witnesses is still being heard at the trial of the case of the terrorist act against RNK President in Stepanakert.
As the correspondent of MEDIAMAX reports from Stepanakert, Zhudeks Shakarian, the lawyer of the main accused Samvel Babayan spoke today with solicitation to invite the Armenian politician Ashot Manucharian to the trial as a witness. As another accused, Lebanon citizen Vardan Tashchian stated, in March 2000, in S. Babayan's presence Ashot Manucharian told him that during his meeting with RNK President Arkady Ghukasian the latter declared that V. Tashchian had to leave Karabakh, otherwise he would be arrested. The court satisfied the solicitation of the lawyer.
At present Ashot Manucharian is the co-chairman of Socialist Union of Armenia. In early 90s he held the posts of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Armenia, President Ter-Petrossian's Adviser on national security.
The trial of the case of the March 22 terrorist act against RNK president Arkady Ghukasian started on September 18 in Stepanakert. The main accused of the case is RNK ex defense minister, Lieutenant-General Samvel Babayan. -0-