Gayaneh Hakobyan, now on trial for allegedly attempting to kidnap the son of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan on May 17, has fired her defense lawyers.

One of the lawyers, Hovsep Sargsyan, reported the news to reporters after leaving a Yerevan court today citing a difference of opinion regarding defense strategy.

"There was a change of position between us and the client. We will no longer defend Gayaneh Hakobyan. That was the wish of our client," said Sargsyan.

The lawyer said the defense team wanted to push for Hakobyan’s acquittal, but Hakobyan disagreed.  He didn’t specify what line of defense Hakobyan believes is correct or what she will now do.

Hakobyan, the mother of Zhora Martirosyan, a solider who died in the 2020 Karabakh war war, allegedly drove off with Ashot Pashinyan after he got in her car to discuss the consequences of the war.

Hakobyan’s supporters, relatives of other soldiers who died in the war, have staged several protests calling for her release.

Update: Hakobyan was released today after the court found her guilty on the kidnapping charge and sentenced her to four years. The court, however, freed her from any jail time and sentenced her to one year probation.