Ex-Armenia president goes on trial, rejects 'coup' charges
Armenia's jailed former president went on trial Monday over what prosecutors describe as a coup that led to bloody protests but he insists is a politically motivated case.
Robert Kocharyan led the ex-Soviet nation for a decade up to 2008 when his hand-picked ally Serzh Sarkisian was elected.
He stands accused of tipping those presidential polls in Sarkisian's favour and faces charges of "overthrowing the constitutional order".
Dozens of Kocharyan's supporters rallied Monday outside the Yerevan city court, holding placards that read "Kocharyan is a political prisoner" and "Political vendetta." Hearings started at 1000 GMT in a tiny courtroom packed with journalists.
Dressed in a grey business suit, Kocharyan looked unperturbed and smiled at supporters in the audience who shouted "Freedom".
The 64-year-old told AFP the case was brought against him because of new leadership that pushed out his successor in a popular uprising last year.
"What is happening to me is nothing less than ...