Yerevan /Mediamax/. Ahead of the first court hearing set for January 19, the defense team of Armenia’s former defense minister Davit Tonoyan reaffirmed the latter’s statement where he demanded open court hearings to ensure public examination of the criminal case.

“We are convinced that by holding closed hearings, an attempt will be made not to reveal the lack of evidence in the criminal case and the futility of the prosecutor’s substantiations.

Besides, Armenia’s National Security Service and different circles tried to artificially link the criminal case to the 44-day war, thus, Davit Tonoyan believes that is necessary to conduct  public examination of the criminal case to reveal and deny this circumstance as well,” the statement of the defense team reads.