YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The July 2 court hearing of the case filed against Zhirair Sefilian, the coordinator of the non-governmental civil initiative "In defence of the liberated territories", was interrupted as the defensive side declared that he had submitted a statement to Jora Vardanian, the Chairman of the Court of First Instance of the Kentron and Nork-Marash communities in Yerevan, concerning the challange made against Mnatsakan Martirosian, the judge presiding over this case, in a definitive way. The representatives of the initiative organized an action of protest in front of the building of the court before the beginning of the court hearing. According to them, the case that is being heard in court is not a criminal one at all, and Zhirair Sefilian, Vardan Malkhasian, and Vahan Aroyan are political prisoners. Irrespective of the fact that a great number of arms was discovered in the house of the latter, the participants of the action of protest believe that they would not detain Vahan Aroyan if he were not acquainted with Zhirair Sefilian. The following hearing is set for July 6.

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