Razmik Abrahamyan has sued two newspapers in Armenia for slander based on articles published back in 2003 referring to him as a “pedophile”.

Abrahamyan, in fact, had been charged with committing violent acts of a sexual nature prior to the publications in Aravot and Haykakan Zhamanak.

At today’s opening trial session, Abrahamyan said he was ultimately found guilty by the court based on the negative coverage appearing in the papers. He spent the next nine years behind bars.

The plaintiff is demanding two million AMD from each in compensation.

Abrahamyan brought copies of the articles in question to the court, but they were illegible. Judge Apinyan scheduled the nest trial date for February 25.