DEFENDANT BRAWL AT STEPANAKERT TRIAL

PanARMENIAN.Net - 25.12.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. Today the court hearings on the case of the March 22 terrorist act against NKR President proceeded in Stepanakert.

At the start of today's hearing, when Judge Suren Alexanian wanted to proceed with questioning the defendants, Zhudeks Shakarian, the lawyer of NKR ex defense minister Samvel Babayan interrupted him and asked to voice a solicitation. But the Judge didn't let him have the floor and continued the court hearing. The Judge said at the same time that the lawyer has repeatedly violated the law, abused his post and hampered the normal course of the trial in every possible way.

In reply Shakarian left the courtroom. S. Alexanian had to declare a short break for the court to make a decision concerning the lawyer's behavior. The conversation between the court and the lawyer resulted in oral rebuke and the call not to impede the process.

After the trial was resumed the relatives of the some of the accused applied to the court to take certain actions toward the lawyers, who, in their opinion, put artificial obstacles in the normal course of the legal proceedings. Their remarks, addressed mainly to Zhudeks Shakarian, were supported by some of the accused as well.

Victims Samvel Gabrielian and Sergey Sarkisian, as well as accused David Gulian, Varuzhan Melkumian and Ararat Musaelian demanded fair and immediate punishment for the main organizer and committer of the crime - having in mind NKR ex defense minister Samvel Babayan. After that a brawl started between defendants Erik Faramazian and Garnik Tsaturian (S. Babayan's relatives) and David Gulian, Varuzhan Melkumian, Ararat Musaelian and Khachatur Petrosian. The brawl grew into a fight, involving relatives of the accused. The heated atmosphere in the courtroom caused a break in the trial.

In the afternoon the court complied with Samvel Babayan's request to postpone the trial till December 26 due to his bad health condition. -0-