Former Armenian president brought to court for March 1 case VIDEO

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, who is currently in custody, was taken to the Anti-Corruption Court in Yerevan on September 18.

The court is scheduled to hold another hearing in the case concerning the deadly events of March 1, 2008, when post-election protests in the Armenian capital escalated into clashes between demonstrators and security forces, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media. 

Kocharyan was arrested on August 27 and ordered to remain in custody for two months.

The March 1 events followed Armenia’s February 2008 presidential election, whose official results were disputed by the opposition led by Armenia’s first president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan. Opposition supporters had held indefinite protests in Freedom Square in Yerevan.

On the morning of March 1, police dispersed the protest camp, after which demonstrations moved to the area around the Alexander Myasnikyan monument. The unrest escalated into clashes involving protesters, police and internal security forces. The authorities deployed the army in Yerevan and declared a state of emergency.

Ten people — eight civilians and two police officers — were killed, while hundreds more were injured following the use of firearms and riot-control measures.

By Sabina Mammadli