The preliminary court session on the case of the second President of the Republic of Armenia Robert Kocharyan v. The Republic of Armenia and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan took place today, on 18 January, in the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan.

Respondent’s representative Gevorg Gyozalyan submitted to the court a flash drive and documents, as well as a motion to admit them as evidence in the case.

The lawyer also mentioned that they had obtained the evidence from former NA deputy Arman Babajanyan.

Plaintiff’s representative Hayk Alumyan expressed his position on the evidence presented to the court, saying that the documents, like the flash drive, had nothing to do with Nikol Pashinyan’s speech, which they considered a slander. “None of the properties mentioned in these documents have anything to do with Robert Kocharyan. These documents that you submitted were obtained in an incomprehensible manner. If your client, taking advantage of the fact that he is the Prime Minister, obtained these documents, then there are also issues that should not be examined within the framework of civil proceedings, as they are criminal case materials and contain the secret of the preliminary investigation.”

Presenting his position, Gevorg Gyozalyan said that his client only has said that the money stolen from the people, among other officials, is also with the plaintiff and members of his family, and added that his client ex-officio possessed this information. “The plaintiff disputing the admissibility of this evidence does not mention the specific law or legal act, according to which I have to prove an obviously clear fact.”

After hearing the parties, the court informed that it would examine the presented evidence and give a legal assessment.

The preliminary hearing is over, and the next hearing is scheduled for April 14.

It should be reminded that Robert Kocharyan’s lawyers’ team has filed a lawsuit against the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. The lawsuit is based on Nikol Pashinyan’s statements made during the 1 March, 2021 rally in the Republic Square.

The defenders demand to consider Pashinyan’s statements as slander, to deny them, to recognize the presumption of innocence of the President.

“On 1 March, 2008, the then rulers of Armenia brought their army against the people and decided to shoot the citizens of Armenia, It is very important to state that there are people accused in this case, the 1 March case, who are standing in court today and I must, yes, state that the 1 March case, in my opinion, has been revealed,” the Prime Minister said.

The total amount of compensation required for violations is 4 million AMD.