YEREVAN. – Famous Russian lawyer Ruben Margaryan has joined the team of advocates defending Armenian driver Hrachya Harutyunyan, Ombudsman Karen Andreasyan said.

Andreasyan has just arrived from Moscow where he held meetings within Harutyunyan’s case. The Union of Armenians of Russia initiated assigning of a lawyer, they will also provide the funding.

Karen Andreasyan admitted that the situation caused some concern in terms of strategy of defending Harutyunyan’s rights, taking into account the fact that he already had three lawyers.

“I think that Ruben Markarian will lead a team of lawyers, and their combined efforts will ensure the successful defense of the defendant’s rights,” Andreasyan said during the Tuesday press conference in Yerevan.

Asked about the possibility of extradition, the Ombudsman said that it is possible only after the verdict is passed.

“Now it is time to talk about ensuring a fair trial,” he added.

To note, a truck crashed into a passenger bus on July 13 outside Moscow, and it was found out that the truck driver was an Armenian citizen by the name of Hrachya Harutyunyan. The impact of the crash was so powerful that the bus had split in two. The accident claimed 18 lives and about 50 others were hospitalized. The court had Harutyunyan arrested on Monday. In addition, he was brought to the courtroom with slippers and a women’s robe. This fact caused widespread discontent among the Armenian public, and protests were staged across the Russian Embassy in Armenia.