Director of Cultural Center Forced Employees to Attend 'Armenia' Alliance Meeting: Investigation Committee

The Investigative Committee's Goris investigative department in the Syunik region has conducted a thorough investigation revealing that on June 7, 2021, the director of the 'Gusan Ashot' cultural center, which operates under the Goris municipality, summoned employees to a meeting. During this meeting, he announced the intended visit of members of the 'Armenia' alliance to Goris and, using his official position and the dependency of the employees on him, coerced the librarian and other staff members to participate in electoral campaigning organized by the alliance in the Goris community.

Subsequently, on June 15, 2021, around noon, the director met the librarian in front of the organization's museum and, upon learning that she planned to attend a rally for the 'Civil Contract' party in Goris, obstructed her participation by threatening to dismiss her from work. This has been reported by the Investigative Committee.

With a sufficient combination of evidence obtained, charges were filed against the director of the cultural center under points 1 and 2 of part 2 of Article 149.1 of the RA Criminal Code, and detention was imposed as a preventative measure. The preliminary investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to the prosecuting attorney for approval of the accusatory conclusion before being forwarded to the court.

Notice: The person suspected or accused of the alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code by a legally binding judicial decision.