YEREVAN. – Tuesday’s hearing of the criminal case against Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan and several other former senior officials has been rescheduled once again.

The court informed that a message was received from Karen Mezhlumyan, the lawyer of defendant—and former Defense Minister—Seyran Ohanyan, that the latter was still in the hospital and would not be able to attend the hearing. The lawyer had also informed about his own health issues and asked the court not to consider his absence disrespectful.

The court asked attorney Aram Vardevanyan why Robert Kocharyan was absent from the courtroom. The lawyer responded that hearing about Seyran Ohanyan's health problems and his absence from the upcoming hearing, as well as suspecting that he had contracted the coronavirus, he had advised Kocharyan not to attend today’s court session.

To note, the absence of one person involved, or of his/her lawyer, from the court hearing automatically means rescheduling of the given hearing.

Vardevanyan informed that he received Kocharyan’s coronavirus test result today, which is negative, and therefore if the court wants to see his client in the courtroom today, he will ask for a 10- to 15-minute recess to ensure the presence of his client in the courtroom. But the court did not find it necessary.

Also, Aram Vardevanyan recalled that on March 23, the Constitutional Court will consider Robert Kocharyan's claim to determine the constitutionality of Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code.

The court ruled that there were no obstacles to the court hearing, and therefore scheduled the next court session for March 23.