Vano Yeghiazaryan vs. Artur Sakunts

At 12:00 pm, on August 5, 2011, the trial over Lernapat village Mayor Vano Yeghiazaryan vs. Artur Sakunts, head of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor /Judge B. Grigoryan/ is appointed at Lori Region Court of General Jurisdiction.

Vano Yeghiazaryan had submitted a lawsuit to Lori Region Court of General Jurisdiction for causing damage to his prestige, dignity and business reputation. According to Vano Yeghiazaryan, statements like “red flags of corruption crimes aren’t tried on equal basis, “red flags” regarding a number of activities initiated by the Lernapat Village Mayor including wasting local budget allocations, his decision to free his family from property taxes” which Artur Sakunts, head of HCA Vanadzor, related in an interview to “Vanadzorian Khchankar Weekly” on December 8, 2011 caused damage to his prestige, dignity, and business reputation.

Vano Yeghiazaryan states that the court should mandate Artur Sakunts to publicly admit his guilt and deny the slandering accusations in the same newspaper.  Yeghiazaryan also demands 2.000.000 AMD and all court costs to be reimbursed in compensation. It should noted that on February 19, 2011, the Lori Region Court of General Jurisdiction made a decision to suspend the trial of the case.

Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor has appealed the decision to RA Civil Court of Appeals, where the decision to close the case was abolished.