Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan announced on Facebook that she is initiating a joint lawsuit against Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan for “insulting numerous citizens and public figures”.
“Today, many citizens and public personalities—who were also sued by Bagrat Galstanyan—have joined my proposal to file a group claim over his public insults,” she wrote.
The group lawsuit is being launched in accordance with Article 224 of Armenia’s Civil Procedure Code.
Political analyst Styopa Safaryan has offered organizational support, which Avanesyan accepted. “We are a forgiving and generous people, but accountability matters,” she said, proposing that any moral damages awarded be donated to a charitable cause.
Others supporting the initiative include Aram Sargsyan and Harutyun Mkrtchyan.
*Earlier, Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan filed lawsuits against Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan, Civil Contract MP Vahagn Aleksanyan, and several other public figures, demanding compensation for alleged defamation and insults.
He is seeking 6 million AMD from Aleksanyan, and 3 million AMD each from Avanesyan, Republic Party leader Aram Sargsyan, party council member Ani Khachatryan, former MP Styopa Safaryan, and political analyst Harutyun Mkrtchyan.*
