Kocharyan hearing adjourned amid peremptory challenge of judge

Ex-President Robert Kocharyan has filed a peremptory challenge of judge against Judge Armen Danielyan who is presiding over the ongoing hearing of the General Prosecution’s appeals against the former Armenian leader’s release from custody and the suspension of the March 1 trial. The March 1 trial was suspended by another judge and sent to the Constitutional Court for validation earlier.

Kocharyan’s attorney Hayk Alumyan filed the motion requesting Judge Danielyan to recuse himself. Alumyan accused the judge of being “the judge who seldom makes rulings that contradict the prosecution’s stance”.

Kocharyan’s lawyer said the judge was given the case in “suspicious circumstances”.

He also argues that the two different complaints of the prosecution should’ve been assigned to two different judges.

Kocharyan himself took the floor and reiterated the peremptory challenge. “I am urging you to also understand that in this case it is extremely important to dispel this kind of suspicions, and it is impossible to do so without a recusal,” he told the judge.

The prosecution objected the motion and said Kocharyan’s arguments do not constitute grounds for requesting a recusal.

The hearing eventually adjourned until June 14th, 10:30.

Ex-Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan’s and ex-military official Yuri Khachaturov’s lawyers were also taking part in the hearing.

The March 1 events colloquially refer to the 2008 post-election unrest in Yerevan, when clashes between security forces and protesters left 10 people, including two security officers dead. The unrest spanned from lat...