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Judge Anna Danibekyan of the Yerevan Court of Gerenal Jurisdiction presiding over the trial of Armenia’s second President Robert Kocharyan and three other senior officials, on Tuesday denied a defense motion for the recusal of prosecutor Petros Petrosyan.

The judge announced that the ruling is not subject to appeal.

The motion filed by the defense lawyers during the previous court hearing stated that during the preliminary probe the investigative body committed a number of violations, including unlawful searches, unlawful confiscation of property unrelated to the case. Moreover, testimony given in favor of Robert Kocharyan had been concealed. The prosecutor, however, ignored them and did not take any judicial action. Defendants consider that Petrosyan displayed biased attitude and did not exercise proper prosecutorial control over the case.

The victims' representatives and the prosecution had objected to the defense demands. 

The next court hearing is scheduled for November 26.