On 1 March, a regular hearing in the case of Armen Charchyan, Deputy of the “Armenia” Faction of the National Assembly, was held at the Avan Seat of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge Vahe Misakyan.
Charchyan is accused of forcing to participate in the 20 June, 2021 elections. A few days before the voting (18 June), a part of the recording of Charchyan’s meeting with the hospital employees was distributed, which the law enforcement officials describe as obstructing the exercise of the voter’s free will. The article incriminating Charchyan also mentions forcing someone to vote in favor of somebody.
During the session, a witness, the Deputy Director of “Izmirlian” Medical Center, Tigran Nalbandyan, who is now the Temporary Acting Director of the Medical Center, was questioned.
Tigran Nalbandyan announced in court that in addition to business relations, he and Charchyan are friends and Charchyan had turned to him and asked to organize a meeting.
“During the meeting, Armen Charchyan urged the collective to fulfill their civic duty, not be passive and participate in the elections. Then there were publications in the press that gave rise to wrong assumptions, but there was only a call, an exhortation, a request,” Nalbandyan said.
Prosecutor Hayk Hovhannisyan asked the witness whether everyone was at the meeting or not. Nalbandyan stated that no, but he does not specifically remember who participated. The incident happened when Charchyan was on vacation. The prosecutor was interested in the fact whether in the past Charchyan had organized gatherings and visited the hospital during his vacation. Nalbandyan reply was positive. According to him, such gatherings are often organized, almost every day.
“He called the day before and said that he wanted to meet with the team in order to voice his appeal as a candidate for the National Assembly. We organized, and we gathered, the call was made. Rehn we left the gathering in friendly mood, perceiving all what happened correctly. …I remember that Charchyan said, ‘regardless of your choice, there will be no repression, no problem.’ I remember that clearly,” the witness said, insisting that Charchyan did not conduct the meeting as a director.
The Prosecutor continued: “If your immediate superior tells you that if you don’t do this, there will be disproportionately harshly treatment against you, how will you perceive it?”
Nalbandyan mentioned, however, that Charchyan is their friend, relative. “You just need to know him. If you get to know him, you will understand that there can be no threats. We perceived him as our senior friend, not as a director.”
Then Charchyan’s Defense Attorney Erik Aleksanyan asked the witness questions. Answering the lawyer’s questions, Nalbandyan stated in the court that he had known Charchyan since 2014. According to his perception, Charchyan is a kind and professional person. The lawyer was interested in whether there were cases during the discussion of medical issues and gatherings when there were disagreements and Charchyan imposed his opinion. The witness gave a negative answer. Aleksanyan then asked: “Was there a situation during that meeting when Charchyan said: don’t vote for the “Civil Contract” Party, vote for the “Armenia” Alliance?” Tigran Nalbandyan again gave a negative answer.
Eric Aleksanyan made a statement and noted that when studying the content of the accusation, it becomes clear that Charchyan did not make any statement that people should vote for the “Armenia” Alliance and not for the “Civil Contract” Party. “No evidence in the criminal case indicates this. Could Mr. Charchyan, based on his personal characteristics, force someone to vote in favor of this or that party, and/or not to vote for this or that party?”
The witness emphasized again that Charchyan’s speech during that gathering referred to “fulfilling the civic duty” and participating in the elections. “I did not perceive it as coercion.”
Nalbandyan also mentioned that the meeting had no influence on his choice.
Further, Armen Charchyan himself asked questions to the witness. He mentioned that in the period of 2014-2020 there were both Parliamentary and Presidential Elections. “Have I urged to go and participate in the elections?” The witness answered that before the elections that were scheduled and held during that time, Charchyan called them to participate in the elections.
“Has it ever happened that I showed a harsh, inadequate attitude towards any employee?” Charchyan asked. The witness again gave a negative answer. Nalbandyan added that after the speech, none of the workers approached him or expressed dissatisfaction.
Then the witness answered several more questions of the Prosecutor. “You mentioned that the management of the medical center is carried out according to democratic principles. Now let me quote a part of Mr. Charchyan’s speech, “Believe me; whoever would not go to the election, I will consider it as not fulfilling my word, my request, my call, my demand. And if any of those sitting here does not fulfill my, as a director, request, call, demand, then the director and the entire administration will have a very tough attitude towards the latter.” Will you tell me what does this have to do with democracy, how do you interpret this?”
Nalbandyan insisted that the “Izmirlian” Medical Center is governed democratically and that Charchyan’s words were perceived by the employees of the hospital as an appeal.
“Whatever quote I made, you said that it is not so, I perceived it differently. Is this due to the relationship between you and Mr. Charchyan?” Prosecutor Hayk Hovhannisyan asked.
“It depends on how well I know Charchyan,” Tigran Nalbandyan said.
Then, the Prosecuting Attorney requested to postpone the session, because the list of those brought before the court may be changed. The defense did not object.
The Court, presided over by Judge Vahe Misakyan, decided to postpone the session and set a new court session date for 16 March.
Yevgenya Hambardzumyan
