Robert Kocharyan demands public apology from Alen Simonyan over defamation

Former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has filed a lawsuit against National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, demanding a public retraction and apology for defamatory remarks.

According to court documents accessed via DataLex, Kocharyan is seeking a court order compelling Simonyan to publicly refute false and defamatory statements made on his official Facebook and Telegram announts. The lawsuit also demands that Simonyan issue a formal apology for statements deemed insulting to Kocharyan’s dignity and reputation.

Kocharyan requests that the retraction explicitly state the information shared on 14 June 2025, was false, defamatory and a result of Simonyan’s inappropriate conduct. The apology should acknowledge that prior remarks were intended to tarnish Kocharyan’s honor and express regret.

The case was filed on July 10 and assigned to judge Anushavan Musheghyan.

Simonyan, a prominent figure in the ruling Civil Contract party, responded to the lawsuit with a sarcastic statement on social media, ridiculing Kocharyan’s "sensitivity".