Court Orders Garnik Isagulyan to Retract Statements About Makunts and Compensate

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction has ruled that Garnik Isagulyan, the leader of the "National Security" party, must retract statements made about the Armenian Ambassador to the U.S., Lilit Makunts. The information was published in the judicial information system.

Judge Grigori Vardanyan decided to obligate Isagulyan to retract the statements that are deemed defamatory. He must deny the claims that "the revolution was funded exclusively by Azerbaijani money, for which many participants of the revolution, including the leader of the 'My Step' faction in the National Assembly, Lilit Kamo Makunts, received and brought in 48 million dollars from Turks and Azerbaijanis." Additionally, Isagulyan is required to pay Lilit Makunts 424,000 AMD as compensation.

It is noteworthy that in December 2021, Isagulyan was detained on charges under Article 333, Part 2, Clause 1 of the RA Criminal Code (false denunciation involving serious or particularly serious crimes). During a press conference, Isagulyan stated that the Armenian ambassador to Ukraine held negotiations with the Azerbaijani ambassador in Ukraine. As a result, it was decided that the Armenian Prime Minister should meet with representatives of the Turkish president in Batumi to request funds, as the Armenian state budget had run dry and pensions could not be paid.