Assistant of One of the MPs Made Sexual Insults Against a Journalist and Hit Him in the Face: Details from the Investigative Committee

An investigation is underway to clarify the circumstances of an incident that obstructed the professional activities of a journalist in the yard of the National Assembly of Armenia on April 30. On April 30, 2024, a report was received stating that at approximately 11:50 AM, A.S., an assistant to one of the MPs, approached journalist David Levonyan of Civic.am news agency regarding political issues, sparking an argument related to a video published by Levonyan two days earlier. During the confrontation, A.S. made sexual insults towards Levonyan and struck him once in the face, causing physical injury.

According to the report, the journalist fell as a result of the blow, damaging the camera he was holding at the time. Following this report, the Investigative Committee of Armenia initiated a criminal case in the division for investigating serious crimes of the Yerevan investigative department, under the features of part 3 of Article 237 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (obstructing the lawful professional activities of a journalist by means of violence). Levonyan has been recognized as the victim in this case.

Necessary investigative and procedural actions are being carried out to clarify the circumstances of the incident and to provide final legal evaluations of what occurred.

Notice: The accused of the crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, based on a legally binding court verdict.