Defense motion of RPA deputy chairman to judge’s recuse rejected in Armenia

Vahe Dolmazyan, the judge in the case of Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Armen Ashotyan, has rejected the lawyers’ request to recuse himself, Report informs referring to Armenian media.

“There are insufficient grounds for recusal,” the judge said.

The politician's lawyers expressed doubt about the impartiality of the judge, justifying this by the fact that during the meetings on October 9 and 11, Dolmazyan "deliberately ignored a number of requirements provided for by the Criminal Code."

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 6.

Even before the court’s decision, a verbal skirmish arose between Ashotyan and Dolmazyan, when the accused stated that bacchanalia was taking place in all courts of the country. In response, Dolmazyan urged him to speak to the point and not make such comparisons, threatening to apply sanctions otherwise.

Preliminary hearings in the Ashotyan case continue in the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia. At the previous hearing, the court decided to extend his arrest for another three months.

Ashotyan is accused of actions he committed when he was the minister of education and science of Armenia, when he also headed the board of trustees of the Yerevan State Medical University. Ashotyan and ex-rector of the Yerevan State Medical University Mikael Narimanyan are accused of theft of university property worth approximately $100,000.