After brawl, trial of "Sasna Tsrer" is closed for public

In the Yerevan courtroom, supporters of "Sasna Tsrer" detachment and those of the victim-policeman quarrelled about the credibility of his testimonies. After the opponents used physical force, the judge allowed only the trial parties and journalists to stay in the courtroom.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the majority of the members of the "Sasna Tsrer" armed detachment were released from custody after the change of power in Armenia.

Today, the Shengavit First-Instance Court has continued considering the case of ten key "Sasna Tsrer" members. After Aram Ovannisyan, a former policeman, said at interrogation that during the capture of the building by the "Sasna Tsrer" detachment, law enforcers were unarmed, one of the supporters of the detachment, who were in the courtroom, shouted out that it was a lie. People supporting the rebels and the policeman's friends rose from their seats and launched a verbal skirmish. Shouting, some of them began to push each other with their hands. The court marshals set the disputants apart, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent has reported referring to the live broadcast of the session on the YouTube.

As a result of the incident, Judge Mesrop Makyan decided to continue the hearing of the case behind closed doors for public. The ban does not apply to journalists. "In order to ensure transparency and objectivity, the court allows media professionals to cover the trial from the courtroom, including, the live broadcast of the trial," Judge Mesrop Makyan explained, announcing a break in the trial.

This was a pre-planned provocation of policemen dressed in civilian clothes, Gevorg Safaryan, a "Sasna Tsrer" supporter, has commented on the incident.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on February 27, 2019 at 04:37 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.