A new lawyer has been appointed for world-famous Armenian philanthropist and businessman Ruben Vardanyan, who is being held in Azerbaijani custody, during the ongoing court farce in Azerbaijani capital Baku.

During the “trial” presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev, Vardanyan was provided with an interpreter in the language he speaks—Russian, Azerbaijani media report.

Aghayev stated that Ruben Vardanyan had submitted a petition to dismiss his previous defense attorney on the grounds that he was dissatisfied with the course of the judicial process.

Vardanyan’s request to dismiss defense attorney Avraam Berman was granted, and the Azerbaijani Bar Association was asked to appoint a public defender for him. In connection with this, he was assigned a court-appointed attorney.

The judge announced that Vardanyan’s new lawyer is Emil Babishov.

The next “court” session has been scheduled for November 4.