ArmInfo. Ruben Vardanyan, a former state minister of Nagorno- Karabakh, businessman and philanthropist, has rejected the services of the state-appointed defense attorney Azer Maharramov. His lawyer, Avraham Berman, will continue to defend his rights, as reported by Azerbaijani Trend.
It is noted that the prosecution and the representative of the injured party did not object to the motion. The court held a meeting on the spot and granted the motion. Since January 17, court hearings have been held in Azerbaijan on the case involving former military and political leaders of Artsakh. Among the accused are former presidents of Nagorno-Karabakh Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, Arayik Harutyunyan, former commander of the Defense Army Levon Mnatsakanyan, former deputy commander of the Defense Army David Manukyan, former foreign minister David Babayan and speaker of the National Assembly David Ishkhanyan. The case of former state minister and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan has been divided into separate proceedings. Despite his request to combine his case materials with others, the court ruled to consider 400 out of the 422 volumes separately.