Charges Filed Against Arthur Ayvazyan, Known as 'Manakh'

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has reported that Arthur Ayvazyan, widely known by his nickname 'Manakh', has been charged following investigative and procedural actions in the criminal case overseen by the Malatia-Sebastia investigative department of Yerevan.

On June 9, at 01:33, Ayvazyan organized a live broadcast on his personal Facebook page, accessible to all users of the platform, as well as through the 'Armenian National Army' group. During this broadcast, he made derogatory comments directed at the Armenian military-political leadership, the acting Prime Minister of Armenia, and individuals who are expected to vote for the party led by the acting Prime Minister in the snap parliamentary elections scheduled for June 20, 2021. This behavior constituted a gross violation of public order and demonstrated blatant disrespect towards members of the society.

According to information from the public relations department of the Investigative Committee, Ayvazyan also threatened violence against the aforementioned individuals during the broadcast, which was characterized by a high degree of cynicism.

On June 20, 2021, Ayvazyan was arrested, and based on a sufficient combination of evidence, he has been charged under Article 258, Part 3, Clause 5 of the Armenian Criminal Code. A motion has been submitted to the court to apply detention as a measure of restraint. The investigation is ongoing.

The suspect or accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law as established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, through a legally binding court decision.