Court Orders Proceedings Against Pashinyan: 'You Should Light a Candle That You're Still Free'

On December 27, 2019, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan made a post on his Facebook page stating, "And those who created this reality—from the notaries that stole offices to the guilty who plundered the country—are still whining about political persecution: You should light a candle morning and night that you are still free. Seed-stealing mice."

According to the judicial information system "Datalex," in connection with this incident, the liberal NGO "Civil Consciousness" submitted a request to the Anti-Corruption Commission on January 9, 2020, demanding a conclusion regarding the violation of behavioral principles defined by the Law on Public Service of the Republic of Armenia. This information is reported by Iravaban.net.

However, on January 14, 2020, the Anti-Corruption Commission decided to reject the application submitted by the president of the NGO "Civil Consciousness," Narek Samsonyan.

The NGO "Civil Consciousness" decided to pursue its demand through legal means. By filing a lawsuit, they sought to annul the Anti-Corruption Commission's decision No. 01/2019 dated December 5, 2019, which left the application without examination. Subsequently, on August 24, 2020, the Administrative Court of Armenia, presided by Karen Zarikian, accepted the claim.

The Anti-Corruption Commission appealed the Administrative Court's decision to the Court of Appeal. On May 26, 2021, the Court of Appeal rejected the Anti-Corruption Commission's appeal, leaving the Court's decision unchanged. The Anti-Corruption Commission then appealed this decision to the Supreme Court. On September 15, 2021, the Supreme Court denied the appeal for it to be accepted for proceedings.

Therefore, the Anti-Corruption Commission is obligated, upon the petition of the NGO "Civil Consciousness," to adopt a conclusion regarding the violation of legal behavioral principles by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's post and initiate proceedings against him.