A regular court session in the case of Professor Armen Charchyan, deputy of the “Armenia” Faction of the National Assembly, director of the “Izmirlian Medical Center” was held on 16 March, at the Avan seat of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction. Presiding 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 incriminated to Charchyan also refers to forcing to vote against someone.
According to Iravaban.net , 3 nurses of “Izmirlian” Medical Center testified during the court session called today.
Victoria Karapetyan was the first to testify. She said that she has been working at the hospital since 2019. The witness mentioned that she had participated in the meeting, but did not pay attention to Charchyan’s words. In response to the questions of prosecutor Hayk Hovhannisyan, Victoria Karapetyan stated that she does not remember exactly the day of the convened meeting, and who informed her about the holding of the meeting, and how long it lasted. In addition, the witness did not remember the passages quoted from the recording made during the meeting. “I was not attentive.”
Victoria Karapetyan said in court that she did not listen to the mentioned recordings during the interrogation, but according to the case materials, she listened the recording and answered the investigator’s questions about it.
The prosecutor quoted a part of Armen Charchyan’s speech at the meeting: “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. There is such a phrase – adequate answer. No, it will not be adequate; it will be very inadequate, because today the future of my child, my grandson is decided.” Do you remember such an expression?’ The witness replied that she did not remember.
“I did not record any special words or phrases from Charchyan’s speech at the meeting. Respecting and loving our director, we participated in the meeting. I have nothing special to say. He told us to go and fulfill our civic duty, participate in the elections,” Victoria Karapetyan said.
There were questions to which the witness answered with difficulty or did not answer at all. Judge Vahe Misakyan asked the witness if she was constrained by something. The witness gave a negative answer. Hayk Hovhannisyan continued: “Armen Charchyan warned during his speech that he can find out who and how has voted.”
“No, I didn’t hear, I didn’t see, I wasn’t paying attention,” the witness said.
The prosecutor petitioned for the publication of certain parts of the witness’ pre-trial testimony in court, as there were contradictions between what she told the court and what she had told the pre-trial body. The court allowed it, the defendant’s lawyer Erik Aleksanyan did not object.
The prosecutor noted that it can be assumed from the testimony that the investigator had switched the recording of the meeting for Victoria Karapetyan and asked questions about it.
“The investigator asked you a question about the passage I quoted, which refers to ‘tough attitude.’ You answered: “To be honest, I do not remember anything about tough or disproportionate treatment from Charchyan’s words, but if something like this has happened, I did not feel threat in it. I can’t believe that Mr. Charchyan would allow himself to threaten employees who work day and night and save lives.”
“It is stated in the testimony that you had listened to the recording,” the prosecutor said. It was stated in it that after listening to the recording, Victoria Karapetyan confirmed that it was Charchyan’s voice in the recording, but stated that she did not get any negative impression from the speech. The witness claimed that she does not remember that she had listened to a recording in the pre-examination body.
Defense attorney Erik Aleksanyan also quoted a part of the testimony. ” …To be honest, I don’t remember and I can’t say that such words were uttered, but at the same time, knowing the human qualities of Mr. Charchyan, I continue to insist that I did not and do not accept his words as a threat.” If I am not mistaken, at the end of the meeting, in his closing speech, he said that everything will be fine, the next morning will be like the previous one, and there will be no problems with him.” Did you remember these words?’ The witness confirmed: she remembered about that.
“Have you told the truth?” Aleksanyan asked. The witness answered affirmatively.
The second to testify was Nvard Badalyan, who has been working at the “Izmirlian” Medical Center since 2012. She mentioned that there was a meeting, Charchyan, “calmly”, said that everyone should participate in the elections. She could not say exactly who invited her to the meeting.
To the question whether such meetings were often called, the witness answered that they were called mostly on festive occasions. In reply to the question about the occasion of the meeting, Nvard Badalyan said, “You know, I do not exactly remember what it was about. The director said, as RA citizens, all of you should participate in the elections so that your places do not remain vacant.”
The prosecutor again quoted Armen Charchyan’s words regarding the “inadequate answer”. The witness stated that she did not hear or remember such expressions during the meeting. “He could not show such attitude towards his employee. I have not heard anything like that. He loves and respects his employees. I remember that on that day he said: “All of you should take part in the elections.”
Erik Aleksanyan asked whether Charchyan’s speech had a negative impact on the witness, whether she felt a threat, demand, or coercion. Nvard Badalyan gave a negative answer.
“After the meeting, you all clapped and left the hall. Was there a discussion after the meeting between the employees about what was expected of them?” the judge asked. The witness answered that there were no discussions with other employees because they were busy with patients.
The prosecutor again petitioned for excerpts from the pre-trial testimony to be published in court. The court granted the petition. Hayk Hovhannisyan read a part of the testimony.”Professor Charchyan made a speech during the meeting: He talked about the upcoming NA elections, urged those present, and then also demanded to go and participate in the elections without exception, so that someone does not take advantage of our absence and vote instead of us. After that, Professor Charchyan, continuing his speech, announced that he was included in the pre-election list of the “Armenia” Alliance. I can’t remember Professor Charchyan’s words completely, but the whole point was that the employees of the Medical Center should participate in the elections and fulfill their civic duty. Continuing his speech, Charchyan also said that his attitude towards the employees who did not go to the election will naturally change, because until that day he did not reject the requests of his employees, he treated everyone well and with respect.” The witness also stated in her testimony that when she was infected with COVID-19, Charchyan provided medical assistance, he did a “favor” to the witness.
Nvard Badalyan stated in court that the assistance provided to her does not matter; any other employee could have been in her place.
“But, when Mr. Charchyan did you a favor, did he oblige you…?” the prosecutor’s question remained unfinished; the witness immediately gave a negative answer. The prosecutor noted that the witness told the investigator something else, the witness insisted on her previous answer. “I perceived Charchyan’s speech as a compulsion to go to the elections.”
Hasmik Mkrtumyan, who has been working at the “Izmirlian” medical center since 1999, was the third to testify. She also claimed that Charchyan’s speech had no negative effect on her. In addition, according to the witness, Charchyan did not mention that they should go to the elections and vote for the “Armenia” Alliance, nor did he say that they should not vote for the “Civil Contract” Party. “There was an urge to go to elect. He said the next morning will be like the previous one.”
The prosecutor read another part of Armen Charchyan’s speech. “…After the elections, I will take the lists, I have the addresses,
names and surnames of all of you and I will see who went to the elections and who had not.” You say that everything was in a positive light, then how would you describe these expressions?”
“I think there was rather a compulsion to go and vote instead of sitting at home. I don’t think of anything else,” the witness said.
The nurse did not remember Charchyan’s words “regarding tough treatment”.
It should be noted that prosecutor Hayk Hovhannisyan also quoted the following words of Armen Charchyan for 3 witnesses: “…The position of the Mother See is as follows: the current authorities are incompetent, they have failed everything and they should leave. I am informing you about the position of the Mother See. In other words, your employer has that position. I am not urging you to go to vote for this one or that one. The position of the Mother See is that the current authorities should not be voted for.” The witnesses mentioned that they do not remember, and cannot comment on this thought expressed by the Director of the MC.
The other subpoenaed witnesses did not appear at the session, that’s why it was postponed.
The other witnesses summoned to the court did not appear at the hearing, so it was postponed.
Yevgenya Hambardzumyan
