The second Armenian President, Robert Kocharyan, was present at the court session, during which a petition for the extension of his arrest was considered, Armenian second President lawyer Ruben Sahakyan told reporters on Thursday.

Consideration of the petition resumed today at 10 o'clock. On January 18, the court of first instance granted the application of the SIS to extend the term of the arrest of Robert Kocharyan. The defense appealed the decision. On February 7, the Court of Appeal rejected it.

Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan—along with several other former officials—has been charged within the framework of the criminal case into the tragic events that transpired in capital city Yerevan, in March 2008—and under Article 300.1 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code; that is, breaching Armenia’s constitutional order, in conspiracy with others. Subsequently, he was charged also with taking a particularly large bribe.

On March 1 and 2, 2008 the then authorities of Armenia used force against the opposition members who were rallying in downtown Yerevan, and against the results of the presidential election on February 19, 2008. Eight demonstrators as well as two servicemen of the internal troops were killed in the clashes. But no one had been brought to account for these deaths, to this day.