Today, the trial of former Armenian Foreign Minister Alexander Arzumanian and Suren Sirounyan continued at the Nork-Marash District Court, Judge Mnatsakan Martiroyan presiding. The two defendants summed up their refutation of the charges levied against them in statements that lasted five hours.

Mr. Sirounyan said that he was security chief for Vano Siradeghyan and “since the current regime’s faucet is filled with revenge against Siradeghyan” they are hounding me.

Mr. Sirounyan said that at times he didn’t know what trial he was participating in since there was more mention of Nikol Pashinyan and Shant Harutyuyan made than his name, even after their cases had been separated out of the trial.

The defendant mentioned that of the other sic individuals charged in the original “March 1st” public unrest case, he only had close connections with Alexander Arzumanian. “I am proud to stand here alongside Alexander Arzumanian since he was one of the founders of this country, the leader of my party and its foreign minister.”

He characterized Myasnik Malkhasyan, Hakob Hakobyan and Sasoun Mikayelyan as heroes but claimed that he hadn’t any dealings with them since 1998 and only met up with them in these latest court proceedings.

“By uniting these seven individuals together and creating one case against them, the prosecutor’s office proved that its aim was to clear itself of any further dealings with the ten victims of Match 1, 2008,” Mr. Sirounyan charged.

Characterizing the entire proceeding as a farce, he addressed Judge Martirosyan by saying, “Rather than exonerate me and Mr. Arzumanyan I would ask that you retire to your chambers and reach a judgment based on the facts as presented in the court.”

Mr. Arzumanyan’s defense speech lasted longer and was more political in nature. He likened the trial to some work of science-fiction where 1/3 of the story is based on the author’s life experiences, 1/3 a reflection of imagination and dreams and the remainder based totally on lies.

He stated that while he agreed with the defense team’s motion that all the recorded telephone calls and video tapes were obtained illegally and shouldn’t be submitted as evidence, nevertheless he would “use the entire package of evidence of the prosecution to prove his innocence.”

Mr. Arzumanian then proceeded to find fault with all the evidence presented by the prosecution, describing what had been presented as absurd. In conclusion he stated that it wasn’t the prosecution that was proving his guilt by using the evidence at hand but that he would use it to prove his innocence.

“If the court, for the sake of the RoA, would see fit to come to a decision without a minute’s hesitation or doubt, then it must exonerate us. It must confess to the press that it is amazed that such a baseless and fabricated indictment was ever presented and point to the illiteracy of our law enforcement bodies,” stated Mr. Arzumanian.

“I want justice. Even if ten years pass, I will clear my name. But I want a man named Martirosyan to clear my name and not one called Johnson. This is my wish,” Mr. Arzumanian concluded, adding that he wished to be exonerated in an Armenia where the values and principles he has struggled for will one day exist.

The trial will continue tomorrow.