Alen Simonian Interrogated as Victim During Levon Yeranosyan's Court Session

During the court session of former Deputy Police Chief Levon Yeranosyan today, February 24, Alen Simonian, the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, was interrogated as a victim.

He informed the court that it is not right to accuse individuals when measures have been repeatedly taken against them: "It is very important to understand what is happening in general. If there were individuals who threw stones, they were provocateurs, but if we look at the chronology, this refers to a time when the police were applying those methods. I must say in honor of the police that mostly they did not engage in any conflict because the overall atmosphere was not one to confront the police. To accuse people or to say they are provocateurs when you constantly use prescribed measures against them is unreasonable. Before bringing people to this situation, it should not have been turned into a battlefield on Baghramyan Avenue, and then be surprised at who sees blood and tries to resist. I have been in the hospital with the police, and I have seen a police officer who was injured as a result of using that measure."

It should be noted that this court session involved the examination of video tapes, while during the previous session, the court reviewed the evidence related to Yeranosyan's case. It is reminded that the actions attributed to Yeranosyan occurred during the mass protests on April 16 and April 22, 2018. According to the indictment conclusion, Levon Yeranosyan intentionally committed actions using special measures that clearly exceeded his authority and caused significant harm to the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, as well as carelessly led to severe consequences.

Yeranosyan has been charged under Article 309, Part 1, Clauses 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, and a signature not to leave was chosen as a preventive measure against him.