YEREVAN. – The first court session, with respect to the balloon explosion in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan, convened on Thursday, but it was adjourned until September 14.

The hearing was adjourned because Serob Bozoyan, the sole person accused in this affair, was absent from the courtroom. 

Also, 118 injured parties were absent, too, and courtroom allocated for the 79 injured parties was very small, and therefore the hearing was relocated to a larger sessions’ hall, Pastinfo News Agency reports.

Prosecutor Hakob Martirosyan, however, motioned to adjourn the session and to carry out measures so that the accused and all injured parties attend the next hearing.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, a tragedy occurred during the ruling Republican Party of Armenia’s (RPA) parliamentary election campaign rally and concert held at Yerevan’s Republic Square on May 4. Hundreds of balloons filled with gas exploded and started to burn. Subsequently, the balloons’ melted rubber fell on the event participants. Those near the stage were affected the most, and 154 people were injured.

Subsequently, German plastic surgeon Adrian Daigler, who was invited to Armenia upon the instruction of President and RPA leader Serzh Sargsyan, operated on nine patients who suffered injuries from the balloon blast. And the last patient was discharged on July 2.      

Serob Bozoyan, who had filled these balloons, is charged with manufacturing and selling products not meeting safety regulations and causing harm to two or more people.