STEPANAKERT (Noyan Tapan)–A trial for the assassination attempt on Nagorno-Karabakh Republic president Arkady Ghoukassian is set to begin on Friday–June 9.
Defendants Seyran Aroustamian–Andrei Afsharyan and Araik Vartanian were all part of former Karabakh Army commander Samvel Babayan’s team of bodyguards. While the three are not being charged with undertaking the actual attempt–the prosecutors have charged them with several counts of stealing and concealing weapons.
Reporters visited the Karabakh Interior Ministry headquarters Thursday and were acquainted with the case and had the opportunity to assess the condition of the facility where the defendants are kept.
Journalists met with five of the suspects in custody for the assassination attempt. The prisoners all said they had no complaints about the treatment they had received in custody–adding that when necessary the needed medical attention was provided. All questioning was being conducted with the presence of attorneys.
Some 16 people are in custody for the March 22 failed assassination attempt against Ghoukassian–who has been recovering in a Yerevan hospital since the incident.