YEREVAN. - Court of First Instance of Avan and Nor Nork Administrative Districts started the trial of a suit filed by reporter of Hetk newspaper Grisha Balasanyan against Armenian MP and large businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan.

Balasanyan demands that the court make the Armenian parliament member to apologize to him and pay AMD 1million as compensation for insulting his dignity and honor.

The plaintiff accused Hayrapetyan of using swearwords during a phone conversation. When the journalist called him on February 2 to make an arrangement, Hayrapetyan refused to answer his questions, calling the latter “ignorant” and then mouthing swearwords at Balasanyan. The plaintiff presented the record of his conversation to the court as evidence.

The journalist’s lawyer Vahe Grigoryan presented his arguments during the trial, referring to the provisions of international conventions.

The trial was adjourned till April 27, 2011.