By Artak Khulian
YEREVAN (Azatutyun) — An Armenian court has refused to consider Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan’s libel suit against a media outlet that effectively accused him and his extended family of illicit enrichment.
Civilnet.am had scrutinized the family’s business assets in a journalistic investigation jointly conducted with the international Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). In a November article, the publication said that Avinyan’s dazzling political career made since the 2018 “velvet revolution” was “accompanied by the growing prosperity of businesses linked to his family.”
The article singled out an agribusiness firm officially owned by Avinyan’s father and brother. He received government contracts, grants and loan subsidies when he served as deputy prime minister from 2018-2021. Avinyan denounced the “false article” and pledged to sue the publication last week during a live debate with his predecessor and political opponent Hayk Marutian.
It emerged on December 25 that the court decided not to hear the case unless Avinyan pays a legal filing fee of 150,000 drams ($380). The plaintiff asked for an exemption, saying that payment of the fee would “cause significant financial hardship to me and my family.”
The court rejected the request and gave him three days to pay up. The mayor’s press office did not clarify whether he will do so.
