The trial of two top former officials in the RoA Ministry of Nature Protection on bribery charges, was cancelled today. None the six subpoenaed witness or the Prosecuting Attorney showed up at the Kentron and Nork-Marash District Court. The two officials, Tigran Grigoryan, who headed the Ministry’s Environmental Inspectorate, and Arsen Petrosyan, his deputy, have been indicted for demanding a 400,000 AMD bribe from Vardan Aslanyan, Director of "Delta Fragment", a firm that operates a clay and basalt mine. The bribe was to cover up certain environmental violations and to cut the penalties to be paid. In addition, the two officials also face charges of conspiring to extort 5 million AMD from the Akhtala Mining Enrichment Company in order that the Ministry extend the deadline for the completion of a water distribution system along the Nahatak River in the Ayrum-Tchotchkan valley in Lori. The Akhtala Mining Company belongs to Serob Ter-Petrosyan, an advisor to Prime Minister Sargsyan. At today’s court session, lawyers for the two sacked officials merely declared that their clients have declared that they are innocent of the charges. One of the defense lawyers, Samvel Mirzoyan, said that he would present remarkable and convincing proof of this during course of the trial.