NEWS.amwrites:
Yesterday, the “trial” in the case of Ruben Vardanyan continued in the Baku Military Court.
We learned from Azerbaijani media that he refused to have a lawyer. On the topicNEWS.amasked for a comment from Siranush Sahakyan, the defender of the interests of Armenian prisoners of war at the ECHR.
Ms. Sahakyan, yesterday, the “trial” in the case of Ruben Vardanyan continued and we learned from Azerbaijani media that he refused to have a lawyer, and the court seems to have granted it. Do you have any new information about that?
First, let me clarify that Ruben Vardanyan refused the services of the state-appointed public defender, whom the prosecutor had introduced at the first hearing, arguing that, allegedly based on the complexity of the case, Vardanyan needed another lawyer. Vardanyan stated that this lawyer did not provide him with any legal assistance, never visited the isolation cell, and he did not trust him.
At that time, the prosecution objected, claiming that the lawyer appointed by the state should remain. However, according to my information, Vardanyan’s motion to refuse the state defense attorney was granted at yesterday’s hearing. Vardanyan’s interests will be defended there by his private attorney, Abraham Berman, licensed in Azerbaijan.
And he is deprived of the opportunity to meet with international lawyer Jared Genser and receive his legal assistance, since the Azerbaijani prosecutor’s office rejected Genser’s application to visit Baku.
At yesterday’s hearing, the part of the “indictment” regarding Ruben Vardanyan himself was read out. Moreover, the accusations are each more incredible and ridiculous than the other.
Yes, indeed, the accusations presented are beyond the bounds of reason, so it is impossible to comment on them or provide counterarguments to them.
