The Chamber of Advocates of Armenia has condemned the removal of attorney Yerem Sargsyan as defense counsel in the criminal case involving Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, as well as the decision to summon him as a witness in the same proceedings. The position was outlined in a statement issued by the Chamber.

The Council of the Chamber of Advocates adopted a decision condemning actions which, in its assessment, create a risk of disclosing attorney-client privilege and bear signs of interference with a lawyer's professional independence.

Specifically, the Council objected to:

• Removing attorney Yerem Sargsyan from participation in the proceedings without a clearly defined and properly substantiated legal basis.
• Summoning him as a witness in the same criminal proceedings.
• Requesting information from him that is protected by attorney-client privilege.
• Planning investigative actions involving his law office, residence, personal belongings or digital storage devices that could result in the disclosure of confidential attorney-client information.

The Council urged the investigative authority to immediately reconsider the grounds for removing Yerem Sargsyan from the case, refrain from conducting searches, seizures or other examinations of his law office, residence, vehicle, personal belongings or digital devices where they relate to his legal practice, and ensure the full inviolability of documents and data protected by attorney-client privilege.

The Chamber's Council also called on the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia to exercise proper oversight over the legality of any actions affecting lawyers' rights, attorney-client privilege and the right to legal defense.

The Council appealed to Armenia's Human Rights Defender, as well as national and international organizations working in the field of human rights, seeking an appropriate response and support to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

On July 22, it became known that Yerem Sargsyan had been removed from the criminal proceedings involving Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan, preventing him from continuing his legal defense. At the same time, the attorney was summoned for questioning as a witness in the same case. Sargsyan said he would appeal the decision both to the Prosecutor's Office and to the court.