Armenian court rejects Tigran Avinyan's lawsuit against Pastinfo

An Armenian court has dismissed a civil lawsuit filed by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan against Pastinfo media outlet, the website reported on Saturday.

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction rejected Avinyan’s claim challenging Pastinfo’s reporting that he simultaneously held two incompatible roles in 2022, then serving as Yerevan’s deputy mayor while also chairing the board of the state-owned Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF).

Pastinfo said its investigation argued that Armenian law bars deputy mayors from holding paid positions in commercial organizations, citing provisions of the law on local self-government in Yerevan. The outlet reported that Avinyan and ANIF had sought damages totaling about 12 million drams ($30,000), which the court declined to grant the lawsuits.

Speaking to Pastinfo, its lawyer Sos Hakobyan said the reporting met European Court of Human Rights standards for investigative journalism.