Statements about Criminal Case Against Davit Tonoyan Are Misleading, Says Spokesperson

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Shushan Stepanyan, stated on her Facebook page that the headlines claiming "A criminal case has been opened against Davit Tonoyan" are misleading formulations intended to confuse readers.

According to her, Defense Minister Davit Tonoyan has taken appropriate measures within the framework of his legally delegated powers to implement the court's legal decision regarding monetary compensation for reserve officer Tsolak Khachatryan’s unused annual leave and the penalties calculated on it.

The court's decision is designed to ensure the enforcement of the law, and adhering to the legally prescribed procedures takes a certain amount of time. It should be noted that every cent allocated to the Ministry of Defense has its operational significance and is intended for the implementation of specific programs, which do not include costs arising from previous possible deficiencies or unresolved legal issues, nor the fulfillment of the demands of Tsolak Khachatryan and other servicemen.

In order to ensure the implementation of this and several other court decisions that have entered into legal force, the Ministry of Defense was compelled to make cuts to certain programs. For this purpose, the Ministry initiated a budget redistribution in the spring in accordance with the established procedure. The corresponding procedures have been completed, and after the beneficiary provides the necessary bank guarantees, the execution of the decision will take place shortly.

As for the opening of a criminal case, the Ministry of Defense has not yet been officially notified. Additionally, a criminal case cannot be launched against a minister; a case can only be opened in relation to the fact. The Defense Minister does not hold a procedural status in any investigated case, not even as a witness. “Headlines saying ‘A criminal case has been opened against Davit Tonoyan’ are misleading formulations aimed at deceiving the reader,” Stepanyan emphasized.