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Arthur Nahapetyan, Chairman of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee, has commented on the progress of the criminal proceedings into the events of March 1–2, 2008.
Nahapetyan noted that following the European Court of Human Rights’ judgment of September 18, 2025, an investigative group was formed, and extensive evidentiary and other procedural actions were carried out.
“Based on the evidence obtained, charges have also been brought against several former high-ranking officials. During the reporting period, five criminal proceedings were separated from the main proceedings and sent to court with indictments concerning 10 individuals. The preliminary investigation is continuing in respect of another 11 defendants. The Committee will continue its work consistently to ensure a comprehensive and impartial investigation of the case. All circumstances must receive an appropriate legal assessment. Establishing the circumstances of the violence used against peaceful demonstrators, working to restore violated rights, and providing an appropriate legal assessment of what happened are matters of state responsibility,” Nahapetyan said.
In its judgment published on September 18, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found that Armenia had violated the right to life of those killed during the March 1, 2008 events. The ECHR found that, with the exception of Samvel Harutyunyan and Zakar Hovhannisyan, the state had violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights (the right to life) in the cases of the other victims. The Court also noted that the Armenian authorities had failed to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of the victims’ deaths, thereby also violating Article 38 of the Convention.
A criminal investigation into the deadly post-election unrest in Yerevan in 2008 is still ongoing. Former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan had rallied supporters in Yerevan to protest what he described as rigged elections that resulted in Serzh Sargsyan being declared president-elect in 2008. Ten people, including two police officers, were killed during mass disturbances and clashes between demonstrators and security forces on March 1, 2008, in the final days of Robert Kocharyan’s presidency.