The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction today denied the motion of the attorneys of ex-finance minister of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan to provide proofs kept by the National Security Service in regard to Khachatryan’s case.

The prosecutor declared that it is very likely that Khachatryan will hide from investigators since his two sons have already hidden and are now wanted. The prosecutor also stressed that detention selected as a pre-trial measure against Khachatryan is substantiated and there are no grounds to change it.

Khachatryan’s attorney Yerem Sargsyan filed a motion with the court to provide the attorneys with proofs kept at the National Security Service and stressed that there can’t be a real investigation since the prosecutor hasn’t allowed the attorneys to prepare for the defense based on all the case materials. He also informed that, based on his information, 37 volumes of the case have been set aside from the nearly 120-volume criminal case regarding Khachatryan.

Sargsyan also said he won’t be able to refute substantiated suspicions during the trial, if he isn’t able to familiarize himself with the case materials.

Gagik Khachatryan isn’t attending the first court hearing due to health problems and has applied to the court to continue the court hearing in his absence.

The first court hearing on the criminal case against Gagik Khachatryan, former Minister of Finance and ex-Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia, and against his nephew Karen Khachatryan, former head of the SRC Internal Security Department, is getting underway Wednesday.

Both do not accept the charges that have been brought against them.

The matter of the Khachatryans' precautionary measure of arrest is expected to be examined during today's court session.

Gagik Khachatryan has been charged under the Criminal Code articles on abuse of power, embezzlement or squandering, taking bribe, and official fraud.

And Karen Khachatryan has been charged under the Criminal Code articles on embezzlement or squandering, and official fraud.

Both are under arrest.