Earlier today, the pre-trial phase of the defamation suit pitting former RA President Robert Kocharyan, as plaintiff, against the newspaper Hraparak recommenced in a Yerevan court.

The prosecution motioned the court to call in Hraparak editor Armineh Ohanyan and reporter Lusineh Petrosyan as witnesses in order to provide clarification about statements published in the daily that Kocharyan has deemed liable.

Defense lawyer Ara Zohrabyan objected, saying that while the newspaper accepts that the statements were published, they are not facts per say, but opinion. The court accepted his proposal that the debate be postponed until the actual litigation got underway.

At the end of the session, the presiding judge reminded the parties as to their right to resolve the matter through reconciliation.

The prosecution declared that one attempt had been made to get the newspaper to publish a retraction and that only this could serve as a basis for resolution.

The defense noted that it would have to take the matter up with his client.