Today, the trial got underway in the November 17, 2008 assault of Hetq Chief Editor Edik Baghdasaryan.

Other than 20 year-old Karen Harutyunyan, law enforcement has yet been unable to identify the two other individuals who attacked Mr. Baghdasaryan as he left the Hetq offices in the evening on the day in question.

Karen Harutyunyan not only denied participating in the attack but refused to offer testimony. However, the preliminary investigative body substantiated the charges against Mr. Harutyunyan, premeditated assault by an individual or group resulting in medium level physical injury, and the case was sent to the Kentron Nork-Marash District Court.

At today’s session, Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan presiding, Edik Baghdasaryan and his son Tigran Baghdasaryan were questioned. Also questioned was Karapet Atoyan, who works as a guard at the building housing the Hetq offices. The latter two were called as witnesses but their testimony didn’t have direct bearing on the case.

Satenik Amirbekyan, a suponead witness, failed to show up in court without providing any forewarning.

Another material witness, Norayr Avetisyan, a prinicipal with the military training academy, had notified the court that due to “family matters” he would be outside the country as of June 2. He requested that the court pardon his absence and use the testimony he previously had given.

At the time of the incident, Mr. Avetisyan had been walking through the area and its was the shots fired from his gun that sent the assailants fleeing. He was the one who identified Karen Harutyunyan as a former resident in his courtyard.

Mr. Harutyunyan’s defnse lawyer, Vahagn Manukyan, motioned the court to arrange for Mr. Avetisyan to be present at the trial, describing him as the principal witness. The court promised that it would notify the two absent witnesses to be present at the nest session.

Judge Martirosyan asked Mr. Baghdasaryan if he could offer any concrete evidence pointing to those responsible for organizing the attack.

Mr. Baghdasaryan replied that after the attack Karen’s mother came to his house and said that she is Vardan Ayvazyan’s son’s doctor and that the two boys regularly met each other. The Hetq editor said that this started him to think that the attck might be linked to a series of articles he had written reagrding the business dealings of Vardan Ayvazyan.

Judge Mnatsakanyan then asked if Mr. Baghdasaryan was preparing to ask for financial damages.

“I haven’t launched a civil case against the defendant. In general I find it meaningless to punish Karen Harutyuyan, even if he was one of the attackers, if those behind the assault are not to be exposed,” said Mr. Baghdasaryan

The trial will continue on June 10 at 3:00 pm.