The verdict issued by the court of first instance in the case concerning the death of 29-year-old pregnant woman Sona Mnatsakanyan has remained in force. Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeals decided to uphold the sentence against police Major Aram Navasardyan, the driver in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s motorcade, who was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison, Factor.am reported.
“We will appeal to the Court of Cassation,” Raffi Aslanyan, representative of the victim’s legal successor, told reporters after the ruling was announced.
The defense had sought acquittal through its appeal, while the victim’s side demanded a harsher sentence.
Four years after the tragedy, no one has ultimately been punished. Moreover, there is a risk that the statute of limitations may expire. Criminal proceedings were initiated under Armenia’s former Criminal Code, which sets a five-year statute of limitations for the case. On April 26, 2027, the five-year period will expire, which would imply the termination of criminal prosecution, exemption from criminal liability and closure of the case.
On April 26, 2022, the Paronyan-Leo intersection was once again closed to allow Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s motorcade to pass. Sona Mnatsakanyan, who was 31 weeks pregnant, attempted to cross the pedestrian crossing at the moment one of the escort vehicles speeding through the area approached. The vehicle, driven by police Major Aram Navasardyan, fatally struck Mnatsakanyan. After the collision, neither he nor the drivers of the accompanying vehicles or Pashinyan’s car stopped. Navasardyan later returned and participated in investigative actions. He remains the only defendant in the case. He was initially detained, after which a travel restriction was imposed as a preventive measure.
Following nearly three years of court proceedings, the court chaired by Judge Karen Farkhoyan ruled in August last year to sentence Aram Navasardyan to 1.5 years in prison and revoke his driving license for the same period. Both sides in the trial appealed the verdict to the Court of Appeals.
