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On February 16, 2016, the General Jurisdiction Court of Kentron and Nork-Marash administrative districts of Yerevan, RA, presided by judge G. Poghosyan, resumed examination of charges on abuse of powers by Hrant Mazmanyan, former RA National Security Service officer.

The court hearing was attended by defendant H. Mazmanyan, his defender T. Hakobyan, prosecutor A. Shahbazyan, affected party K. Kyupelyan, and his representatives A. Sakunts and T. Siradeghyan.

At the court hearing, the Court questioned former NSS officer Tigran Aghajanyan acting as a witness under the case. He mentioned that after apprehending victim K. Kyupelyan to the administrative premises of the RA NSS on November 1, 2007, he had a talk of some 10 minutes with him and had never come across him again. In response to the questions of the defendant’s attorney, T. Aghajanyan noted that he had given H. Mazmanyan no instructions on keeping K. Kyupelyan at the administrative premises of the RA NSS.

Victim’s representative A. Sakunts tried to find out whether the counterintelligence department was authorized to apprehend K. Kyupelyan for smuggling. However, presiding judge G. Poghosyan left the question out considering that it did not relate to the charges. A. Sakunts requested the court to file a motion on challenge to the judge, after which the court hearing was interrupted.

After resumption of the court hearing, A. Sakunts motioned that the judge issued a self-challenge on the pretext of biased attitudes, mentioning that K. Kyupelyan was involved as a victim and the investigation into the case should aim to restore his violated rights. At the same time, A. Sakunts mentioned that the Court showed similar attitude to the other participants of the proceedings as well and thus hindered the administration of justice.

Prosecutor A. Shahbazyan objected to the motion, and the defense left its solution to the discretion of the court. The court retired to the deliberation room to make a ruling. By its ruling announced thereafter, the Court rejected the motion noting that the case was investigated under the charges brought against H. Mazmanyan and the Court would leave out any non-related questions.

Witness T. Aghajanyan was asked some questions also by presiding judge and victim’s representative T. Siradeghyan. In response to questions, the witness said that he had given no instructions either to H. Mazmanyan, or to E. Nanyan to keep K. Kyupelyan at the administrative premises of the RA NSS.

After the questioning of the witness, victim’s representative T. Siradeghyan motioned to involve E. Nanyan as well as a witness under the case on the pretext that according to the testimonies of the victim and defendant, H. Mazmanyan was given the instruction above, while T. Aghajanyan’s testimonies made it clear that he had issued no such instruction.

The prosecutor objected to the motion, and the defense supported it. Having examined the motion above, the Court ruled to dismiss it. Given no motions on any further evidence to complete the proceedings, the Court considered the trial proceedings ended and passed to the stage of judicial disputes.

Prosecutor A. Shahbazyan requested the Court for some time to give a speech.

The Court granted the motion and adjourned the court hearing till March 16, 2016, 3 pm.

See also: pastinfo.am