The activities of  My Step foundation have become a stumbling block  between Pashinyan`s partner and  the Independent Observer NGO  coalition

ArmInfo.The activities of the My Step charitable foundation have become a stumbling block between Daniel Ioannisyan, a representative of the Independent  Observer coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Anna  Hakobyan, the partner of the Armenian Prime Minister and the  foundation's executive director.

On April 22, the Independent Observer reported that it had filed a  lawsuit in administrative court regarding the charitable events held  by the "My Step" foundation during the country's electoral processes.

"It is a well-known fact that the name of the My Step Foundation is  associated with the Civil Contract Party, and, accordingly, any  activities carried out by the Foundation after the elections are  scheduled should, at a minimum, be subject to administrative  proceedings,"  the Independent Observer stated.

In this regard, it is mentioned that, according to Article 40.16 of  the RA Code of Administrative Offenses, charitable activities by  organizations whose names may be associated with the names of parties  participating in the elections, or by organizations managed by  parties, as well as by organizations whose founder(s) or director(s)  are nominated as candidates in the elections, during the period from  the date the decision to schedule the elections or referendum comes  into force until the results of the elections or referendum are  summarized, in the communities where the elections are held: shall  entail a fine for the official of the organization in the amount of  two hundred to four hundred times the minimum wage.

Following this NGO report, Pashinyan's partner convened an urgent  press conference on April 27, declaring that the Independent Observer  bloc had violated her rights guaranteed by the Constitution, several  laws, and international conventions, and that she intended to file a  counterclaim. "I have asked my legal team to explore the possibility  of initiating the following two actions: filing a complaint to  initiate a criminal case against Daniel Ioannisyan, and filing a  lawsuit against the Independent Observer bloc demanding compensation  for damages to the credibility and business reputation of the My Step  Foundation," Hakobyan said. She also stated that she had been  subjected to torture and  discrimination as a result of these  actions.

Ioannisyan's response was immediate. He wrote on his Facebook page  that he was completely at peace with Anna Hakobyan's statement about  her intention to sue him and the Independent Observer bloc. "It's  perfectly normal for someone we've filed a lawsuit against to try to  file a lawsuit against us. However, with all due respect to Anna  Hakobyan, I must note that the legal regulations she mentioned  (torture, discrimination, etc.) are, to put it mildly, astonishing. I  think Ms. Hakobyan has a poor understanding of what torture is, who  can use it, and who can't, even theoretically.

In any case, we continue to insist that the My Step Foundation is  associated with the Civil Contract, and let anyone who claims  otherwise throw a stone at me," Ioannisyan added.