"I forgive all those who committed a crime against me by bearing false testimony or exhibiting enmity," defendant Alexander Arzumanyan charged under last year’s post-election unrest in downtown Yerevan announced during yesterday’s closing trial at Shengavit Court. The Court availed the defendant an opportunity to voice his "last word". "Who knows when I shall make my last word? I still have time for it. I am proud of my deeds. I have done nothing to regret. I am proud for our people who protest against the rigged elections," said Alexander Arzumanyan. "As to the people who perpetrated the March 1st carnage, it is not me who must forgive them but God. God will decide how to punish the authorities for the March 1 unrest. He urged the present people to read the New Testament, especially those sections which deal with Paul the Apostle. He also advised his relatives and adherent not to be disappointed or discouraged as the struggle had entered a new stage. The last statement of another defendant Suren Sirunyan charged under the same case was also original. He decided to read a lecture to the Court about the evil, the evil man’s heart. By quoting from textbooks for the medieval age Sirunyan stated that the ones, who gave false testimonies, were punished by their testimonies. “The punishment of the false testifier is very cruel in the Bible as well,” said Sirunyan. Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan will announce Sirunyan’s the verdict on June 22.
