DEFENDANTS PLEAD NOT GUILTY
Support A1+!The accused of the October 27 terrorist attack entered pleas at today’s hearing. All of them denied guilt and pleaded innocent to all charges.
Key defendant Karen Hunanyan and his codefendants Hamlet Stepanyan and Derenik Bejanyan refused to speak in a protest.
“I don’t want to defend myself from illegal accusations”, said Stepanyan who can be sentenced to 14 years in jail on prosecutors’ proposal or to life imprisonment on demand of victims Karen Demirchyan, Vazgen Sargssyan families’ heirs.
Defendant Ashot Knyazyan, who was charged with suppressing truth while having some knowledge about imminent terrorist action, denied any wrongdoing. “I hoped prosecutors would be guided by the law, but they demanded irrelevant penalty for me”, he said fighting back tears and stopped speaking unable to continue. Shortly after that, when the judge suggest him to continue his speech, Knyazyan said resentfully he won’t speak.
Hearing will be continued at 4 p.m. local time after a break.
