Suren Papikyan was at home during official vehicle crash, ministry says

Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was not in the official vehicle involved in a traffic accident in Yerevan on Sunday, Defense Ministry spokesperson Aram Torosyan has said.

"Circulating reports and footage suggesting that Defense Minister Suren Papikyan was involved in a crash with a ministry vehicle are false. The minister was at home at the time of the incident," Torosyan stated.

The controversy arose after Yerevan City Council member Samvel Hakobyan posted a video showing a Defense Ministry vehicle crashing into parked cars. Hakobyan criticized the use of government resources and called for clarifications, demanding real evidence.

Following the ministry’s statement, Hakobyan questioned why two official vehicles assigned to the minister were on the streets late Sunday night without him, hinting at misuse.