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On April 26, 2011 the Lori Region Court of First Instance heard the trial of Vano Eghiazaryan’s claim against Lernapat community member, Gevorg Melkonyan, to compensate for damages caused to his prestige, dignity, and business reputation. The court session, presided over by Judge Varduhi Hovnanyan, was attended by plaintiff party, Vano Eghiazaryan, and the responding party, Gevorg Melkonyan and his representative, Artur Sakunts.

During the trial, Vano Eghiazaryan stated that the following comments “he has set up an “illegal” basalt mine here”, “reached a criminal agreement with the former manager and borrowed a huge sum of money from Harutyunyan Samvel”, and “I’d like to know if the “money eater” was Samvel, the village mayor or the Avagani”, as slander and an insult.  These comments were made by Gevorg Melkonyan in the “Zhamanak” Daily on September 1, 2010. 

In response to the claim, Artur Sakunts, head of HCA Vanadzor, maintains that every citizen has a right to freedom of speech which is endorsed by the RA Constitution and the International Norms on Human Rights. The head of the Lernapat community is the plaintiff party and the target subject of the community members; therefore, residents of the Lernapat community have a right to express their opinion regarding his activities. In this regard, Gevorg Melkonyan expressed his opinion regarding the activities of the community leader, which cannot be considered as a slander or an offense.

During the court session, Artur Sakunts submitted a solicitation to invite witness Samvel Harutyunyan into the court room for clarifications.

The trial was postponed and appointed on May 30, 2011, at 15:30.