The Yerevan court of general jurisdiction, chaired by Judge Artur Mkrtchyan, denied the motion of the attorneys of former Minister of Finance and ex-Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia Gagik Khachatryan and his nephew Karen Khachatryan, former head of the SRC Internal Security Department for the recusal of prosecutor Gevorg Sargsyan.

The attorneys had stated that they hadn’t familiarized themselves with the case materials in the necessary amount at the end of the preliminary investigation and that their motion filed with the prosecutor had been denied.

They also stressed that the prosecutor has a biased approach under this case.

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.