Alen Simonian Files Lawsuit Against Robert Kocharyan

The President of the National Assembly, Alen Simonian, has filed a lawsuit against former President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, on February 5, 2026. In his lawsuit, he demands a public apology from the former president for defamation and seeks 1 million dram in damages. This was reported by Hetq.

The content of the demand includes the following statement: "On January 29, 2026, during a press conference I convened, I made offensive remarks regarding Alen Simonian, for which I apologize to Mr. Simonian." On January 29, 2026, during a press conference held by Robert Kocharyan, a journalist asked him about the situation in the army, referencing Simonian’s evaluations that food and water were not being supplied adequately, officers were belittling soldiers, and other issues.

Robert Kocharyan expressed surprise that the journalist took Simonian’s statements seriously enough to draw conclusions, noting that he "says whatever comes to mind." According to Kocharyan, during his presidency, the army was in a condition that prevented Azerbaijan from daring to attack.

"If Alen Simonian is to evaluate the combat readiness of the army, then we’ve really reached that point. What does this man understand about the army? I doubt he has even served properly. Because such flamboyant individuals cannot serve normally," Kocharyan responded to the journalist's question.

Alen Simonian likely considers these remarks to be defamatory. He demands that the text of the apology be published on Robert Kocharyan’s Facebook page in a manner accessible and visible to everyone, for at least five working days, or if impossible, in printed media with a circulation of at least five thousand copies. Additionally, Simonian requests that Kocharyan cover his legal expenses, totaling 530,000 dram, of which 480,000 dram is for attorney fees and 50,000 dram is for the state fee.