Defendant Hayk Sargsyan, the nephew of Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan, refused to testify at today’s hearing at a Yerevan court of general jurisdiction on the case against him.

After publishing the investigative testimony of witness Ashot Simonyan, the court was due to hear the defendant, but the latter refused to testify.

The pistol, which is the material evidence in the case, was examined at the previous trial.

Hayk Sargsyan is charged with a crime committed 11 years ago—for attempted murder, and illegal possession of weapons and ammunition.

On September 10, 2018, the Yerevan court of general jurisdiction granted the motion of Hayk Sargsyan's lawyer and ruled that Sargsyan be released on a 50mn dram bail. After posting bail, Hayk Sargsyan was released from prison.