Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinian has once again lost a lawsuit filed against Ishkhan Saghatelyan. According to Saghatelyan’s lawyer, Vahe Grigoryan, the final ruling in the third case has come into effect and cannot be appealed.
Grigoryan, writing on Facebook, noted that this lawsuit, like the previous two, stems from the 2022 "Resistance" movement protests and spontaneous gatherings. These actions prompted Avinian to file four separate lawsuits, demanding fines totaling up to 1,200,000 AMD against Saghatelyan as the organizer.
“In all four related cases, I have represented Ishkhan Saghatelyan and defended his rights and freedoms before both the Administrative and Appellate Administrative Courts,” wrote Grigoryan. The Administrative Court had initially rejected all of the mayor’s claims. Disagreeing with those outcomes, Avinian filed appeals, which were not withdrawn even after the 2023 Yerevan municipal elections.
After losing three of the appeals, Avinian turned to the Court of Cassation. Two of those appeals were rejected, and the decision in the third case has now also been finalized, with the Court of Cassation refusing to accept the appeal. “The ruling takes effect immediately, is final, and not subject to appeal,” Grigoryan added.
He also pointed out that legally, the Yerevan Municipality had no standing to appeal to the Court of Cassation—only the mayor himself was authorized to do so. The fourth case remains under review in the Administrative Court.
