YEREVAN. – Mkhitar Papoyan, a judge of the Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia, has granted the motion to recuse himself from presiding over the ongoing trial of second President Robert Kocharyan.

During the December 6 hearing, the prosecution filed a motion for the presiding judge to recuse himself from this trial. According to the prosecution, it is not about the judge's objectivity, but about external factors that call into question the judge's impending decision on the appeal.

Robert Kocharyan's lawyers will appeal first instance court judge Anna Danibekyan decision to deny the motion for releasing the former president on bail.