Awaiting Court Ruling: Local Daily Chief Editor Uncovers More Dirt on MP Suing his Paper

A local court is expected to issue a ruling on MP Tigran Arzakantsyan’s lawsuit against local daily Yerkir (“Country”) tomorrow, on Jun. 8. Recall, the Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) deputy filed a lawsuit with the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork Marash Administrative Districts of Yerevan against the daily, claiming that the newspaper sullied his honor and dignity in an article as part of a series titled “131 faces and masks” in Yerkir’s Jan. 13 issue.

The MP is demanding 3 million 568 thousand AMD (about $9,775 US) in compensation: 3 million AMD (about $8,219 US) in damages for insult and libel; 500,000 AMD (about $1,370 US) for lawyer fees incurred; and 68,000 AMD (about $186 US) for court expenses.

Speaking to journalists today, Liana Grigoryan, the attorney representing Yerkir, expressed hope that the ruling will be fair, in the daily’s favor.

According to Yerkir chief editor Bagrat Yesayan (pictured), also present at today’s press conference, if the lawsuit is sustained even for damages worth a cent, they will continue the judicial process and if they exhaust all possible options in Armenia, they will take the issue to the European courts.

“We’ve brought all the arguments, that Arzakantsyan has a habit of getting a beating, takes and brings beautiful women, visited Metropol casino 33 times and has a platinum card and so on,” said Grigoryan, referring to statements made about the notorious businessman and deputy in the article in question.

Many violations of the law have emerged throughout the judicial process, Yesayan added.

“It turns out that in France too he has traffic violations; it turned out he owns properties in not only Armenia, but also other countries. During this judicial process, we’ve looked at Tigran Arzakantsyan with an interested glance. I’m sure that if many knew what portrait Tigran Arzakantsyan has [paints], not only he, but also the party which he represents would not get any votes during elections,” he said.

The daily’s chief editor is sure that the court process is guided by a certain group of the ruling authorities, which is trying to silence Yerkir.

“Till today we’ve published reports on 122 MPs, much more sharp reports, but there hasn’t been legal action,” he said.

According to Yesayan, during one of the court sessions, Arzakantsyan made offensive statements aimed at the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun, or ARF-D) party. “ARF-D has ties with Yerkir daily insofar as the [daily’s] chief editor is a Dashnak, but that gives him permission to insult an entire party?”

Weighing in on Arzakantsyan’s earlier statement that the Yerkir staff are merely “tools in the hands of 2–3 people” (referring to the ARF-D), Yesayan said, “It’s obvious to all who is the tool in someone’s hand, and I think that for this statement as well, Arzakantsyan will receive a response — more than he expects.”