Gagik Tsarukyan's Spokesperson Comments on Incident Between Pashinyan and Artsakh Woman

Gagik Tsarukyan is not only actively participating in his election campaign but will also hold a series of meetings across almost all communities of the Republic in the lead-up to it. This was stated by Tsarukyan's spokesperson, Iveta Tonoyan, during a conversation with reporters in front of the court. "Moreover, the series of meetings will not be at the level of large mass events, but rather in yards, parks, and rural gatherings—interacting with people and understanding public sentiments, because, as we have repeatedly said on various occasions, the 'Proposal to Armenia' program is one that is put forward exclusively by representatives of the respective fields."

Commenting on Nikol Pashinyan, Tonoyan noted that it is unacceptable for the head of the country's authorities to spend a large part of the workday making strange and incomprehensible challenge announcements. "I believe this has already become a rooted approach to divert public attention from important issues and to create scenes. If everything is so wonderful concerning the government's rating and public sentiments, then why this chaos? Why these incomprehensible appearances and daily video messages? As for established serious political forces and figures, they are merely working in a constructive field," she stated.

Speaking about the incident involving Nikol Pashinyan and an Artsakh woman, Iveta Tonoyan emphasized the need to acknowledge the factor of honesty. "When you initially deny having made such a statement and then, perhaps based on political expediency or pre-election moods, you choose to apologize under the advice of some, I do not think that the situation is rectified."

Regarding the judge's recognition of Gagik Tsarukyan's innocence in the court session, Tonoyan mentioned that it was unexpected for them, as the political processes that had occurred until that point, which had legal implications, led them to assume the court would make a different decision. "Our group of lawyers was prepared to appeal that decision to the European Court after exhausting all possible courts because there has been no evidence or testimony against Gagik Tsarukyan in the context of a criminal case that has been ongoing for six years. Nevertheless, Gagik Tsarukyan was also detained under this criminal case and participated in all legal proceedings during these years. Just 1-2 years ago, there were all possibilities for this criminal case to be terminated due to the statute of limitations, but our principled position has been that Mr. Tsarukyan's innocence must be proven, which indeed happened."