RNK EX DEFENSE MINISTER DOES NOT PLEAD GUILTY
25.09.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. On September 23 the court process on the case of the terrorist act against RNK President Arkady Ghukasian began with the solicitation of the lawyer of accused Erik Faramazian - Edward Chinarian, who stated about the inexpedience to proceed the trial because of the absence of accused Sasun Aghajanian, who undergoes medical examination at present.
As the correspondent of MEDIAMAX reported, in this connection Chairman Suren Alexanian made public the resolution of the Chief doctor of the mental hospital, stating the stability of Aghajanian's health and said that the medical examination is in its final stage. The solicitation of the lawyer was rejected as the court had earlier decided to stop the criminal case against Sasun Aghajanian.
In reply to the Chairman's question whether the accused plead themselves guilty, Samvel Babayan, as well as the four accused answered in negative.
After that the court proceeded to the statements of the accused. Vardan Tashchian, accused of misprision of felony, affirmed that he knew about the crime being prepared. He said that at the end of February Samvel Babayan told him about his final decision to kill RNK president. Babayan also informed Tashchian about his intention to eliminate RNK prime minister Anushavan Danielian, Vachagan Ishkhanian, the former commander of Shushi division of RNK Defense Army and others. Tashchian said he warned Babayan that he would immediately be the main suspect of committing the crime, to which Babayan replied: "They will guess it was me, but they won't be able to do me any harm".
Tashchian also said that the night before the terrorist act S. Babayan ordered him not to leave Nagorno Karabakh not to arouse suspicions. At the same time he said he didn't know who exactly was to commit the crime, thus he pleads guilty only partially.
The trial will proceed today, on September 25. -0-
As the correspondent of MEDIAMAX reported, in this connection Chairman Suren Alexanian made public the resolution of the Chief doctor of the mental hospital, stating the stability of Aghajanian's health and said that the medical examination is in its final stage. The solicitation of the lawyer was rejected as the court had earlier decided to stop the criminal case against Sasun Aghajanian.
In reply to the Chairman's question whether the accused plead themselves guilty, Samvel Babayan, as well as the four accused answered in negative.
After that the court proceeded to the statements of the accused. Vardan Tashchian, accused of misprision of felony, affirmed that he knew about the crime being prepared. He said that at the end of February Samvel Babayan told him about his final decision to kill RNK president. Babayan also informed Tashchian about his intention to eliminate RNK prime minister Anushavan Danielian, Vachagan Ishkhanian, the former commander of Shushi division of RNK Defense Army and others. Tashchian said he warned Babayan that he would immediately be the main suspect of committing the crime, to which Babayan replied: "They will guess it was me, but they won't be able to do me any harm".
Tashchian also said that the night before the terrorist act S. Babayan ordered him not to leave Nagorno Karabakh not to arouse suspicions. At the same time he said he didn't know who exactly was to commit the crime, thus he pleads guilty only partially.
The trial will proceed today, on September 25. -0-
