The court recognized Arthur Soghomonyan's statements about the FFA leadership as defamatory, the FFA website reports.
On December 16, 2022, the official website of "Pyunik FC" NGO: https://fcpyunik.amon the websitethe interview in the form of an interview with the caption "Pyunik FC owner Artur Soghomonyan, about the results of the year, the leadership of the FFA and the future of Armenian football" was published.
During the interview, Artur Soghomonyan made a number of slanderous and untrue statements about the "Football Federation of Armenia" NGO and FFA President Armen Melikbekyan.
In order to protect their rights, FFA and Armen Melikbekyan submitted a lawsuit to the court of general jurisdiction of Yerevan.
In civil case No. ED/66834/02/22, on December 26, 2024, the court ruled against Artur Arsham Soghomonyan in favor of the plaintiffs "Football Federation of Armenia" NGO, Armen Khachatur Melikbekyan as defamatory on 16.12.2022 through the website https://fcpyunik.am non-material damage caused to the plaintiffs' honor and dignity as a result of presenting factual data to confiscate 800,000 AMD as compensation.
Moreover, the court, referring also to the expressions presented as factual data in the interview regarding FFA and Armen Melikbekyan and their meaning, as well as considering that the performance of such acts or actions implies a violation of legal norms, legislation requirements by the performer, a manifestation of unfair behavior, which are not substantiated by relevant and admissible evidence (not real), came to the conclusion that the presentation of said factual data about the person is defamatory the honor and dignity of the latter, in this case, the plaintiffs.
After the legal entry into force and execution of the court act, FFA plans to donate balls to the schools of Syunik region with the confiscated money.
It should be noted that earlier the FFA applied to the Investigative Committee, asking to study the statements made by Artur Soghomonyan in the interview, with which the latter essentially made a statement about apparent crimes, and asked to give an assessment regarding their compliance with the act provided by the RA Criminal Code.
In the context of the statements made in the interview, the Investigative Committee found that there was no incident in the actions of the FFA leadership that could reasonably be assessed as being in accordance with any act provided by the RA Criminal Code.
