The accusatory speech read out on July 14 by prosecutor Hakob Martirosyan at the trial of Armenian National Congress activists Tigran Arakelyan, Artak Karapetyan, Sargis Gevorgyan and Davit Kiramijyan once again testifies about the prosecutor’s office being a blunt instrument in the hands of political authorities and all this process being a “political persecution”, ANC member Vladimir Karapetyan said speaking to Tert.am.

He said he still hopes the court will stay above of all this and will not assume the role of this instrument for the authorities “which have broken all their promises on their way to the promised reforms.”

The prosecutor demanded 6 years of imprisonment for T. Arakelyan, 3 years and five months for Karapetyan, 1 year and 11 months for Gevorgyan and two years of imprisonment for Kiramijyan.

The young people were brought to the police August 9, 2011 and were arrested after the clashes with the police. Tigran Arakelyan is reported to have broken nose of one of the law enforcers. The young men are accused of insulting, pushing and hurting the policemen.

Vladimir Karapetyan, who is often attending the trials of the ANC activists, said he got convinced in the courtroom that the testimonies given by the police officers are completely false.

“Being aware of the details of the case I insist that the decision to sentence the young men has been made on a political level. They [authorities] imagine the political fight only through imprisoning, persecuting,” Karapetyan said, adding that if convicted the young men will become the second shift of political prisoners.

On July 19 the court will hear the speeches of defense.