The coverage of the nearing trial on the terrorist attack committed on October 27, 1999 in RA National Assembly may be associated with difficulties. As Gnuni Balayan, the Public Relations and Information Officer of the Council of Court Chairmen of Armenia, informed the journalists, the hall of the Court of Cassation, where on February 15 the hearings will start, is designed to accommodate 120 people. However, it is anticipated that the number of people willing to be present at the court proceedings will be much greater. Besides the 13 offenders, 4 prosecuting attorneys and 15 attorneys for the defense, over 90 victims and their 130 relatives are expected to participate. If all of them are accommodated, the journalists will find themselves outside the court hall. This circumstance is a source of great concern to a number of media.
Meanwhile, 60 journalists are to be accredited to cover the trial — not more than one representative from each media enterprise. Gnuni Balayan admitted that his meeting with journalists also aimed at discussing the situation with them, to gather and introduce their suggestions to the Council of Court Chairmen so that a solution to the problem of covering the proceedings could be found jointly. Time will show whether this is going to happen.
