TRIAL OF NKR EX DEFENSE MINISTER POSTPONED TILL MONDAY

PanARMENIAN.Net - 19.12.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. Today the court hearings on the case of the March 22 terrorist act against NKR President proceeded.

As the correspondent of Mediamax reports, Sasun Aghajanian, accused of being the direct executor of the terrorist act, who has been keeping silent up to now, spoke at last. The lawyer of the accused, Edward Aghajanian said that on December 18 and 19 he spoke to his client twice. The latter is aware of what's going on, he is willing to speak but he is exhausted and needs to recover.

Judge Alexanian stressed that Samvel Babayan, who was the first to talk to Aghajanian on December 18, called on him to speak. Lawyer Edward Aghajanian forwarded to the court the request of his client to give him time to recover himself and to get acquainted with the materials of the case. The solicitation was complied with, and the trial is put off till Monday December 25.

In the interview to Mediamax, Judge Alexanian explained Sasun Aghajanian's decision to speak, saying that Aghajanian decided to change his behavior tactics, realizing that the blame for the committed crime is being shifted entirely onto him. Alexanian said that the accused understood the need for his own defense and senselessness of such behavior. This made him break the long silence.

The trial of the accused of the March 22 terrorist act against NKR president Arkadi Ghukasian began in Stepanakert on September 18. The main accused of the case is NKR ex defense minister Lieutenant-General Samvel Babayan. There are 16 persons involved in the case. -0-