In Armenia, at trial on "Case of Seven" defenders challenge the judge

At the trial on the "Case of Seven" that has resumed in Armenia after a week break the defence party has again lodged a petition on self-challenge of Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan who is presiding the trial.

The reason of the petition was the decision of Judge Martirosyan of February 27 on transferring the "Cases of Seven" to the first instance court of the community Centre-Nork-Marash for consideration by the same court composition.

According to advocate Simonyan, the judge had no right to refer in his decision to yet non-enforced legislation. In particular, the latest amendments, stipulating dissolution of the criminal court and transfer of cases to communal courts, according to the law, came into force not on February 27, but on March 1 this year.

Prosecutor Koryun Piloyan has stated on behalf of the accusation that the petition was unjustified. He has drawn the attention of the court that the self-challenge of the judge is the end in itself for the defence party, since if the judge self-retires the process will restart from the very beginning.

In support of the defendants, about a hundred of supporters have rallied today at the court building with portraits of opposition activists who figure in the case.