Raffi Aslanyan, the lawyer representing the family of Sona Mnatsakanyan—killed after being hit by a vehicle from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s convoy—stated that the defense attorney for the accused reiterated that Sona deliberately attempted to obstruct the prime minister's convoy.
“Everyone has access to the incident footage, so let’s not discuss the moral dimension of such a claim. But such a statement gives the impression that the victim was considered a terrorist, and the vehicle struck her to prevent a terrorist act—perhaps even under orders from above…
So, what kind of negligence are we talking about? Are we now debating the legal justification for killing the victim?” the lawyer said, as reported by Aysor.am.
Aslanyan added that this statement should serve as a warning to law enforcement agencies, as such a perception—that Sona deliberately interfered—might also have existed among those transported by the convoy, particularly its leadership.
On April 26, 2022, around 18:05, at the intersection of Paronyan and Leo streets in Yerevan, the commander of the Road Patrol Service’s escort platoon of the Armenian Police, driving a Toyota Prado, struck 28-year-old Sona Mnatsakanyan of Ararat Province. She sustained severe injuries and was taken to Nairi Medical Center, where she died without regaining consciousness. She was pregnant at the time. The vehicle was part of the convoy accompanying Prime Minister Pashinyan.
