YEREVAN. – Defendant Serob Bozoyan had not appeared to the first court session with respect to the balloon explosion in Armenia’s capital city Yerevan, since he was uninformed of the court hearing, Bozoyan himself told Haykakan Zhamanak daily.

“According to him, there was no one in their home when the postman had brought the court summons, and the neighbor had said the Bozoyan family no longer lived in that home.  

‘We’re rarely at home, and the neighbor thought we had moved, he thought that we already had sold the house,’ Serob said, and added that he really is getting ready to sell the apartment. 

Bozoyan did not respond to our reporter’s question [as to whether] the reason is financial problems. He also said he definitely will attend the court hearing on [Friday] September 14.

To note, the first court session into the ‘balloon’ case was adjourned [on August 30] since the defendant was absent,’ Haykakan Zhamanak writes.

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.