YEREVAN (Armenpress)–The ex-defense minister of Karabakh Samvel Babayan–who was arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassian last March 22–had renounced his testimony on April 6 at the beginning of the investigation–said Babayan’s lawyer Zhudex Shakarian.
Shakarian insisted that Babayan’s confession was forced by physical abuse. He added that Babayan was threatened with a criminal case that might be launched against his wife.
Meanwhile a number of politicians both in Karabakh and Armenia applied to Armenian and Karabakh leadership calling on them to hand the trial to an Armenian court.
The signatories to the appeal say a number of gross violations of the arrested persons’ rights were reported during the pre-trial process and that is why the trial cannot be held unbiased in Karabakh. They say the handing of the case to an Armenian court will raise the international image of Karabakh.
However–Karabakh president Arkady Ghoukassian is strongly opposing this demand. Speaking to Karabakh television on August 3 he said that these deman’s are "not serious." He said the case had been handed to Karabakh Supreme Court and the trial is to begin in about 20 days.