In the case of National Assembly MP Hakob Hakobyan, Judge Gagik Avetisyan had previously issued orders for two witnesses, Moushegh Antonyan and Ashot Melkonyan, who had been previously subpoenaed but not questioned, to be brought to the court.

Mr. Antonyan had showed up voluntarily but was not questioned at the time. Prosecutor Hovsep Sargsyan left the court and never returned. The witness, due to the fact that he was being pursued, spent the night at the offices of the newspaper “Chorrord Ishkhanutyun” and came to the court from the office today.

Prosecutor Sargsyan today explained that his blood pressure had risen and that was the reason why he left the courtroom yesterday.

Aram Karapetyan, who heads the New Times Party in Armenia, refuted a court report that he had interfered with the police who had spotted witness Antonyan outside the Kentron and Nork-Marash Court and tried to take him into custody.

“First, those people weren’t in uniform and should no identification that they were police. Neither did they show any court document to detain Antonyan. Thus, any person, even criminals, could have kidnapped Mr. Antonyan,” stated Mr. Karapetyan, adding that his actions were fully justified.

Mr. Antonyan stated today that court papers addressed to him to appear for questioning were delivered to his neighbor and that he was never given them. “I’m really confused. When I found out that orders for my appearance in court had been delivered I came here,” explained Mr. Antonyan.

A letter had been sent to the court on behalf of Mr. Antonyan stating that he was now in Georgia and couldn’t make the trial and thus requested that his earlier testimony be admitted as evidence. Today, Mr. Antonyan was told about the letter in question and stated that he couldn’t remember if he wrote such a letter or not.

His passport shows that while he travelled to Bagratashen on May 18, he never made it to Georgia. “I quarreled with the Georgian border guards and they refused me entrance,” Mr. Antonyan explained.

Today, the witness was finally questioned. His statements contradicted his earlier testimony.