Mher Sahakyan Charged

The investigation into the incident of public hooliganism that took place in the National Assembly of Armenia has concluded in the Investigative Committee's serious crimes division. This was reported by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

Based on the investigative and procedural actions, it has been established that Mher Sahakyan, a member of the National Assembly of the eighth convocation, on March 31, 2023, during a closed working discussion involving several members of the National Assembly and a representative of the government, used the speech of Vladimir Vardanyan, the chairman of the Assembly's Permanent Committee on State-Legal Affairs, as an opportunity to exhibit disrespectful behavior towards the participants. At around 11:15, he displayed aggressive behavior, demonstrating a disregard for the rules of decorum.

Specifically, he struck the table with his hand, stood up, shouted at Vardanyan, and with the intention of disrupting the normal course of the discussion, approached Vardanyan and struck him in the left temple, causing minor injury.

By decision of the National Assembly, approval was granted for the initiation of public criminal prosecution against Mher Sahakyan based on the request of the Prosecutor General. Sahakyan has been charged under Article 171, Part 2, Point 7 and Article 297, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. A measure of restraint has been selected, prohibiting him from leaving the country.

The pre-trial investigation has been concluded. The materials of the criminal case, along with the indictment, have been submitted to the supervising prosecutor for approval and referral to court.

Note: A person accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law by a court ruling that has entered into legal force.