On March 31, court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan started the hearings on the suit of Gohar Vezirian, correspondent of “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” newspaper, accused on Part 1 of Article 343 of RA Criminal Code (“Disrespect to Court”). As it has been reported, on August 6, 2008 during a session of the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan Gohar Vezirian was ousted from the courtroom upon the order of Judge Gagik Avetisian. For over an hour and a half the journalist was held in the room, intended for defendants, and then she was sent to the Kentron Police Department. After staying at the Police for more than two hours, Gohar Vezirian was released. The criminal proceedings were instituted in September and the charge was brought against the “Chorrord Ishkhanutiun” correspondent on December 24, 2008 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, December 19-25, 2008).
At the court session of March 31 the defendant made an objection to the public prosecutor, which was declined. Meanwhile, the court secured the request of the defendant’s attorney by according him some time to prepare a petition. The next session will be held on April 6.
It should be noted that on March 24 the same court of Kentron and Nork-Marash communities started the examination of the case of free lance journalist Gagik Shamshian, accused of the abovementioned crime (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, March 20-26, 2009).
