Preparations Underway at the Investigative Committee Regarding the Audio Recording of Gagik Jhangiryan and Ruben Vardazaryan's Conversation

The Investigative Committee is preparing materials concerning the audio recording of the conversation between acting President of the Supreme Judicial Council Gagik Jhangiryan and former President Ruben Vardazaryan, said Vardan Tadevosyan, the spokesperson for the Committee in an interview with Aysor.am.

During a meeting with journalists, the suspended president of the Supreme Judicial Council, Ruben Vardazaryan, released an exclusive audio recording of his conversation with Gagik Jhangiryan, who is performing the duties of head of the SJC, and SJC member Stepan Mikayelyan, which took place on February 20, 2021.

The Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia has commented on the matter, stating that the recording has been sent to the Investigative Committee.

According to the recording, Jhangiryan “persuades” Vardazaryan to resign, and in exchange for his resignation, the criminal cases initiated against Vardazaryan would be dropped, allowing him to remain in the SJC as a council member. The recording also includes political statements from Gagik Jhangiryan. He expresses his desire for former President Robert Kocharian not to return.

Yesterday, during a broadcast on Public Television, Gagik Jhangiryan noted that he realized after the first 15-20 minutes of the conversation that Vardazaryan was recording him. Jhangiryan also mentioned that if Vardazaryan presents the full recording, it could have serious consequences for him. He stated that the meeting lasted over two hours: “I am sure that from the very first moment, this recording exists; it is just that these 14 minutes are edited.”