On July 15, producer Armen Grigoryan, a former member of the “Merry and Ingenious Club,” died during the preliminary hearings at the “Kentron” seat of the Yerevan Court of Common Jurisdiction. He was under arrest and accused of publicly humiliating national dignity. In court, Armen Grigoryan’s well-being worsened during the session. The “Ambulance” brigade that arrived did not manage to save his life. Armen Grigoryan was in prison for about 2 months, from May 18, 2022. 

It is not yet known what the cause of Grigoryan’s death was. In connection with his death, Human Rights Defender Kristine Grigoryan demanded clarifications from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. 

Despite the unexplained circumstances of the death, discussions on the issue continue, and various hypotheses are being put forward. According to the Armenia Alliance, the responsible for Grigoryan’s death are “those who ordered it and the narrow circle of authorities who carried it out.” 

The editor-in-chief of the Russian “Sputnik” news agency and the “Russia Today” TV channel Margarita Simonyan also commented on Armen Grigoryan’s death on her Facebook and Telegram pages. According to her, Grigoryan appeared in court for the truth and pro-Russian stance. 

“Kyaj (Blondie) was the leader of the most pro-Russian opinion I know in Armenia. And he was our friend. He was in our house. He was happy that our children speak Armenian. Today he died in the courtroom, where he appeared for the truth and his pro-Russian position. Our friend was arrested on the charge of “insulting the people of Armenia.” In fact, there is little thing more offensive to the Armenian people than this arrest and death,” Simonyan wrote. 

In a post on Facebook, Simonyan posted Armen Grigoryan’s speech at the opposition rally in Yerevan on November 14, 2020, a few days after the 44-day war. Grigoryan spoke in Russian, the speech was titled “Армения была, есть и будет союзником России” (“Armenia was, is and will be Russia’s ally”). 

“We will always be by Russia’s side. Our soldiers will always be next to Russian soldiers. In all wars and above all in future wars,” Armen Grigoryan said in his speech. 

On her Telegram page, Margarita Simonyan added that Armen Grigoryan was arrested because “he wanted to see the union of Russia and Armenia because he valued Russia’s friendship and knew how much Russia had done for Armenia and Armenians.” Margarita Simonyan noted that the producer was in prison for allegedly making anti-state statements. 

In her Telegram post, Margarita Simonyan also included Armen Grigoryan’s speech on November 28, 2020, where he, as a Russian citizen, appealed to the Russian Embassy in Armenia and the Russian government with a request to return the Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijan to their homeland. 

Simonyan’s post was published by “Sputnik,” Livenews.am, hayeli.am, iravunk.com, news.am, blognews.am, 7or.am, and other news outlets. 

Why was Grigoryan in prison? 

Armen Grigoryan was arrested on May 17 of this year on suspicion of inciting national, racial, or religious enmity. This was reported by the National Security Service. 

Grigoryan was arrested for committing a crime under Article 226, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. According to the report, he publicly humiliated the national dignity of the people of Shirak and the Ararat Valley and called into question their ethnic origin with fictitious ideas. In particular, we are talking about the press conference held at the “Hayeli” (Mirror) club. 

Margarita Simonyan’s claims that Armen Grigoryan was arrested for his pro-Russian views are unfounded because a criminal case was initiated against the producer after and on the occasion of the statements he made in the “Mirror” club. 

Ophelia Simonyan