We are dealing with unleashed illegal prosecution: Statement by the lawyers of the Armenian Ambassador in Israel

The lawyers of Armenian Ambassador to Israel, Armen Smbatyan, have issued a statement. Smbatyan has been charged and is subject to an arrest warrant.

"Last year, on October 15, an investigator from the Investigative Committee of Armenia charged Ambassador Armen Smbatyan under Article 38-308 (aiding in the abuse of official powers) of the Armenian Criminal Code, and Article 190 (money laundering) of the same code. The accusation alleges that approximately 13 years ago, he aided a public official's abuse of authority, specifically implying that he did not prevent the official's actions and subsequently legalized what was claimed to be illegally acquired property. It is also noteworthy that both the first-instance court and the Court of Appeal of Armenia have already confirmed the absence of reasonable suspicion regarding the charges against the public official, whom Ambassador Armen Smbatyan allegedly aided through inaction.

This absurd accusation is related to the process of the sale of a building belonging to the public organization 'Armenian Cultural Cooperation with Foreign Countries' located at 3 Abovyan Street in Yerevan. However, this process aimed at attracting investments for the renovation of a building that is in a state of emergency and at risk of collapse, ensuring that the 'Armenian Cultural Cooperation with Foreign Countries' organization can continue its activities in that building.

As a result, unprecedented renovation work has been carried out in the building, from the foundation up to the replacement of the wooden separators between floors and the roof, and cosmetic repairs, all carried out without harming the building's historical and cultural value. Furthermore, the process of the building's sale has been conducted exclusively through legal and transparent transactions, and Ambassador Armen Smbatyan has never held shares in the company that owns the building. Therefore, we believe that the accusation regarding the legalization of property with 'illegal' origins does not require further commentary.

However, we note that the statement issued today by the Investigative Committee regarding the charges put forward six months ago itself indicates that we are once again dealing with unleashed illegal prosecution. It is also no coincidence that this statement coincides with Ambassador Armen Smbatyan's notification of his desire to resign from his position.

Note: The building located at 3 Abovyan Street in Yerevan, where the 'Armenian Cultural Cooperation with Foreign Countries' organization still operates today, has been in the sight of 'significant' business interests of various influential individuals for more than a decade. It will become clear in the near future which currently 'influential' person has their eyes set on that building,” the statement by the lawyers Yervand Varosyans and Lusine Sahakyan reads.