Prime Minister Pashinyan Does Not Drive and Has Not Been Behind the Wheel: Deputy Chief of Staff on Hit-and-Run Incident Involving Pregnant Woman

Prime Minister Pashinyan does not drive and has not been behind the wheel of any vehicle. This was stated by Taron Chakhoyan, the deputy head of the Prime Minister's office, in response to the hit-and-run incident that occurred at the intersection of Leo and Paronyan streets.

“Some opposition media and individuals have begun yet another unfounded speculation surrounding the Prime Minister, directly linking him to the hit-and-run incident at the intersection of Leo and Paronyan streets. During this time, when opposition protests are sparse in the streets of Yerevan, desperate media outlets are trying to fill the information space with news that would discredit the government as much as possible. Naturally, as always, the Prime Minister has been targeted.”

The Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia has already released an official statement regarding the incident, while the rest is merely gossip, akin to claims that Pashinyan handed over Syunik or sparked the war in 2020. Some opposition factions have become accustomed to blaming Prime Minister Pashinyan for any misfortune in the country.

“For everyone’s information, Prime Minister Pashinyan does not drive and has not been behind the wheel of any vehicle; it is absurd to even discuss this,” he added.

According to the Armenian police, preliminary data indicates that the hit-and-run was caused by a vehicle of the Road Police, a 'Toyota' brand car, and details are being clarified through an investigation. “I regret the incident that occurred,” he said.

It is important to note that it was reported a few hours earlier that a government convoy had hit a young pregnant woman in the Leo-Paronyan area. On April 26, at 18:24, a report was received by the operational management center of the police indicating that an SUV had hit a woman near the intersection of Leo and Paronyan streets, as reported by the Armenian police. According to preliminary information, the woman was struck by a vehicle belonging to the Road Police that was in service. The victim has been transported to the ‘Nairi’ medical center, and the circumstances are under investigation. According to media reports, this pertains to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's motorcade.