In its April 6, 2009 issue the newspaper “Haykakan Zhamanak” printed an article in which it reported that Levon Kocharyan, the son of former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, “had committed acts of ‘debauchery’ with some friends in a Dubai restaurant on New Year’s Eve” and that as a result they spent four days in a Dubai jail cell.

This resulted in Levon Kocharyan petitioning the Kentron and Nork-Marash Court of First Instance for the newspaper to be held accountable for its claim. The first session of the case took place on April 23, Judge Arayik Melkumyan presiding.

The plaintiff demanded compensation in the sum of 16,120,000 drams. The suit notes that, “The slandering of Levon Kocharyan directly defames the honor, integrity and good name of the second president of the Republic of Armenia not only in Armenia but in world public opinion.” Furthermore, in the view of the plaintiff, this has also damaged the credibility of Armenia and the good name of the Armenian people.

The suit named “Haykakan Zhamanak” as the defendant and the court duly recognized the newspaper as such even though it isn’t a legal or physical entity. Today, however, Arpineh Melikbekyan, counsel for the plaintiff, motioned the court to “replace an inappropriate defendant with an appropriate one”; in other words “Dareskizp” Ltd, the publisher of “Haykakan Zhamanak”.

The court upheld the motion. The trail will continue on May 12.