Former mayor of Ejmiatsin, Diana Gasparyan, stated before a court hearing that she remains a member of the Civil Contract party. When asked whether she maintains good relations with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, she declined to comment, Panorama.am reports.
“I’ll address the rest when the time is right,” she said.
Asked whether the criminal case against her is related to a leaked phone call with Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, Gasparyan responded: “I’m not a supporter of conspiracy theories. At the very least, I see no reason or basis to make such assumptions.”
She emphasized that she still has a great deal to say regarding the charges against her, far more than can be summarized briefly. “There’s a lot to explain in detail regarding the accusations. I can’t respond in just a few words. The press conference I promised will happen, but first, certain matters must be clarified in upcoming court sessions. Then, I’ll speak. I, too, have much to share with the public,” she said.
There are five defendants in Gasparyan’s case, all under travel bans as a pretrial measure. In addition, bail has been set for her husband and father-in-law. A court date has not yet been scheduled.
Gasparyan has previously called the case and its developments a “circus,” pledging to provide a thorough response after the holidays.
She is accused of abusing her official powers during her tenure as head of the Vagharshapat community starting in October 2018. Investigators allege that, in collaboration with Shahen Shahinyan and Ashot Mirzoyan, she acted beyond her authority in ways that caused significant harm to the legal interests of the community, resulting in major financial losses.
She is also charged, along with her husband Aramayis Mirzoyan, his father Ashot Aramayis Mirzoyan, and others, with laundering large sums of money through abuse of official power.
