Yerevan court rejects Kocharyan’s motion to recuse judge
A Yerevan court rejected the motion of second President Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers during Tuesday's hearing in the trial of the ex-president and three other former senior officials prosecuted in connection with the 2008 post-election events.
The defense lawyers demanded at the first hearing on Monday that presiding judge Davit Grigoryan recuse himself from the case, arguing he cannot be trusted since earlier this year he denied a motion to release Kocharyan from pre-trial custody.
They also claimed the judge could not have managed to thoroughly examine the materials of the criminal case.
“The sides have been provided with the copies of the ruling, with a notification that it is not subject to further appeal,” the judge said.