Avetik Chalabyan

Avetik Chalabyan is a former senior partner of McKinsey & Company.{{Cite news |title=Avetik |language=en |url=https://fast.foundation/en/staff/7172 |access-date=2023-12-29}}{{Cite web |title=The growing importance of steel scrap in China {{!}} McKinsey |url=https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/the-growing-importance-of-steel-scrap-in-china |access-date=2023-12-29 |website=www.mckinsey.com}} Graduated from Yerevan State University with a master's degree in Theoretical Physics and received his MBA from the University of North Carolina. Chalabyan led McKinsey's Metallurgical Practice in CIS and Eastern Europe region from 2010 to 2015, and global Metallurgical Practice from 2015 to 2020. He was a supervisory board member of Metinvest, metals and mining group based in Netherlands. Also served as Head of the WTO Affairs Department at the Ministry of Economic Development of Armenia.

Chalabyan is a co-founder and a member of the board of trustees of Arar Foundation.{{Cite web |title=Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://ararfoundation.am/en/team/avetik-chalabyan/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=ARAR FOUNDATION |language=en-US}} He also serves as a board member in Repat Armenia Foundation.{{Cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://repatarmenia.org/en/about-us/board-of-trustees |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=repatarmenia.org}}

Chalabyan co-founded National Agenda Party in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Arminfo: National Agenda party established in Armenia |url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=37963&lang=3 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=arminfo.info |language=en}} After the 44-day war in 2020, he was involved in a number of opposition movement in Armenia, such as the "Unification" initiative implemented in support of Artsakh. Chalabyan was outspoken{{Cite web |title=Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://mediamax.am/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Mediamax.am |language=en}} and critical{{Cite web |date=16 February 2021 |title=Avetik Chalabyan – From Inconceivable Loss to New National Objectives |url=http://repatarmenia.org/en/engage/Inspiration/a/avetik-chalabyan---from-inconceivable-loss-to-new-national-objectives |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=RepatArmenia |language=en}} about supporting{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Helix Consulting |title=Avetik Chalabyan: I call for protecting the rights of the killed Artsakh resident Martin Yeremyan and his brave brother |url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2021/11/13/Avetik-Chalabyan/2597899 |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=www.panorama.am |language=en}} and recognizing Artsakh,{{Cite news |title="Armenia should have recognized the Republic of Artsakh on September 27": Avetik Chalabyan |work=Aravot Daily News |url=https://www.aravot-en.am/2022/04/05/301261/}} consolidation of Armenian diaspora,{{Cite web |title=Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://regionalpost.org/articles/avetik-chalabyan.html |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=Regional Post |language=en}} as well as building a stronger defense system{{Cite web |title=Avetik Chalabyan: "Three keys are needed to open the door" |url=https://mediamax.am/en/news/interviews/17014/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |website=mediamax.am |language=en}} to assure the sovereignty of the state.

Chalabyan criticized the erosion of democratic institutions in Armenia, advocating for an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and the protection of political and economic freedoms. In addition, he has actively supported educational reform, initiating programs to modernize curricula and provide internationally recognized educational opportunities for Armenian students.{{cite web |title=Լուրեր Հայաստանից - Tert.am |url=https://tert.am/en/news/2025/01/08/avetik-chalabyan/4219146 |website=tert.am}}{{cite web |title=Arminfo: We must work hard and persistently so that Armenia never becomes one-party dictatorship - Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=86608&lang=3 |website=arminfo.info |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Россия |first1=McKinsey |title=Путь консультанта: 10 историй о работе в McKinsey, гибкости и филантропических проектах от Аветика Чалабяна |url=https://telegra.ph/Put-konsultanta-10-istorij-o-rabote-v-McKinsey-gibkosti-i-filantropicheskih-proektah-ot-Avetika-CHalabyana-04-11 |website=Telegraph |date=11 April 2018}}

Chalabyan was arrested on 12 May 2022, within the framework of a criminal case initiated under Article 163, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code, which envisages liability for offering material interest to participate in a public rally. Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan of the Court of General Jurisdiction in Yerevan granted the investigator's motion to detain Chalabyan as a measure of restraint. The accusation against Chalabyan was based on one edited "secret recording, which is inadmissible evidence in the sense of the RA Criminal Procedure Code, in which Avetik Chalabyan apparently does not claim to offer material interest for participating in rallies."{{Cite web |last=Delong |first=Thomas |date=16 May 2022 |title=Avetik Chalabyan is being illegally prosecuted. announcement {{!}}: Morning – Armenian Reporter |url=https://www.reporter.am/avetik-chalabyan-is-being-illegally-prosecuted-announcement-morning/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |language=en-US}}

"During the face-to-face interrogation the main witness insisted that Avetik Chalabyan had never offered him money or other material interest to participate in the rallies. In these conditions, Avetik Chalabyan was illegally charged, and the latter was arrested by an illegal court decision. It is clear that the arrest of Avetik Chalabyan is of punitive nature", stated Chalabyan's attorney.{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Haris |date=16 May 2022 |title=Detention was chosen for an act that was decriminalized by the new criminal code. Defenders of Avetik Chalabyan – Armenian Reporter |url=https://www.reporter.am/detention-was-chosen-for-an-act-that-was-decriminalized-by-the-new-criminal-code-defenders-of-avetik-chalabyan/ |access-date=2022-05-17 |language=en-US}}

Chalabyan is accused of the act provided for in Article 163, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code (offering material interest to participate in public rallies).{{Cite web |last=Узел |first=Кавказский |title=Armenia: opposition activist detained for trying to bribe chairman of university student council |url=https://www.eng.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/59108/ |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=Caucasian Knot}} Judge Armen Danielyan of the Yerevan Court of Criminal Appeals refused to release Chalabyan from prison, upholding a lower court ruling.{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Helix Consulting |title=Judge denies request to release oppositionist Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2022/05/31/Avetik-Chalabyan/2689335 |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=www.panorama.am |language=en}} "Armenia Investigative Committee possesses facts, evidence proving Avetik Chalabyan's innocence," said the defendant.{{Cite web |title=Defense team: Armenia Investigative Committee possesses facts, evidence proving Avetik Chalabyan's innocence |url=https://news.am/eng/news/710783.html |access-date=2022-07-08 |website=news.am |language=en}} Chalabyan was released in August 2022 on bail by judge Ruzanna Barseghyan of Court of Appeals.

In December 2023 Court of General Jurisdiction in Yerevan found guilty Chalabyan for the accusation and decided to ban him from participating in rallies and other public events as well as from changing his place of residence without informing relevant law enforcement for a period of thirty months.{{Cite web |date=21 December 2023 |title=Yerevan Court Places Restrictions On Anti-Government Activist |url=https://hetq.am/en/article/163023 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=Hetq.am |language=en}} Chalabyan and his attorneys claimed the judgement is absurd, and will be appealed.{{Cite web |last=LLC |first=Helix Consulting |title=Armenian opposition activist slams 'absurd' court ban |url=https://www.panorama.am/en/news/2023/12/22/activist-court-ban/2942930 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=www.panorama.am |language=en}} In September 2024 The Court of Appeal overturned the verdict and sent the case back to the First Instance Court for a new trial.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Ավետիք Չալաբյանի գործն ուղարկվել է նոր քննության․ Վերաքննիչ դատարանը բեկանել է դատավճիռը |url=https://www.hetq.am/hy/article/169352 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Hetq.am |language=hy}}{{cite web |title=Yerevan Court sentences Avetik Chalabyan to imprisonment for 1 year 11 months 5 days |url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=81051&lang=3 |website=arminfo.info |language=en}}

The US Embassy in Armenia included Chalabyan's case in 2022 Human Rights Report as an example of arbitrary arrest by the local authorities.{{Cite web |last=Armenia |first=U. S. Mission |date=28 April 2023 |title=2022 Human Rights Report on Armenia |url=https://am.usembassy.gov/2022-human-rights-report/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=U.S. Embassy in Armenia |language=en-US}}

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe addressed the case of Chalabyan stressing the problematic nature of the Armenian criminal law noting that incentivizing participation in rallies should not be criminalized and the use made of the criminal code in this case is disturbing.{{Cite web |date=17 May 2024 |title=The honouring of obligations and commitments by Armenia |url=https://rm.coe.int/the-honouring-of-obligations-and-commitments-by-armenia/1680afc0a1}}

Freedom House reported it is unusual move that court banned activist Avetik Chalabyan from participating in public rallies for two years.{{Cite web |title=Armenia: Freedom in the World 2024 Country Report |url=https://freedomhouse.org/country/armenia/freedom-world/2024 |access-date=2024-12-11 |website=Freedom House |language=en}}

In May 2023, Chalabyan co-initiated the civil-legislative initiative Hayakve (Armenian Vote) being the coordinator of its operating headquarters.{{Cite web |date=27 December 2023 |title=HayaKve initiative submits its draft law to Armenia parliament |url=https://news.am/eng/news/786181.html |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=news.am |language=en}}{{cite web |title=ՀԱՅԱՔՎԵ – քաղաքացիական օրենսդրական նախաձեռնություն |url=https://hayaqve.am/ |website=hayaqve}} Launched on June 29, 2023, Hayaqve aimed to mobilize public support to criminalize any recognition of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) as part of Azerbaijan and denial or belittling of the Armenian genocide.{{cite web |title=Hayaqve legislative initiative collects 54,800 signatures |url=https://horizonweekly.ca/en/hayaqve-legislative-initiative-collects-54800-signatures/ |website=Horizon Weekly |date=29 July 2023}}{{cite web |title=The Collapse of Artsakh is the Greatest Tragedy That Happened in Our Lifetime. Avetik Chalabyan - Western Armenia TV |url=https://westernarmeniatv.com/en/politics_en/the-collapse-of-artsakh-is-the-greatest-tragedy-that-happened-in-our-lifetime-avetik-chalabyan/ |website=Western Armenia TV |date=19 September 2024}} The initiative, supported by 66 civic activists, collected over 58,000 signatures, exceeding the required 50,000 to submit the legislative proposal to Armenia's National Assembly.{{cite web |title=Hayaqve legislative initiative enters decisive phase |url=https://news.am/eng/news/774222.html |website=News.am |language=en |date=27 January 2025}} The proposed amendments to the Criminal Code would impose 10 to 15 years of imprisonment for actions recognizing Artsakh as part of another state or denying the Armenian Genocide.{{cite web |title=Hayaqve: A referendum called to stop the loss of Artsakh |url=https://regionalpost.org/en/articles/hayaqve-a-referendum-called-to-stop-the-loss-of-artsakh.html |website=Regional Post}} Despite allegations of administrative obstruction, including refusal of municipal premises for signature collection, the initiative highlighted public resistance to government policies regarding Artsakh.{{cite web |title=Coordinator of Hayaqve initiative accusing Yerevan Municipality of attempts to torpedo referendum on Artsakh |url=https://arminfo.info/full_news.php?id=77072&lang=3 |website=arminfo.info |language=en}} Chalabyan criticized the Armenian government's stance on border demarcation and handling of the Artsakh crisis, advocating for national unity, international support, and the preservation of Artsakh’s Armenian identity.{{cite web |title=“Hayaqve” Submitted a Criminal Application Regarding Border Demarcation - Western Armenia TV |url=https://westernarmeniatv.com/en/politics_en/hayaqve-submitted-a-criminal-application-regarding-border-demarcation/ |website=Western Armenia TV |date=15 May 2024}} His activism extended to opposing the extradition of Armenian soldiers and commanders to Azerbaijan and urging global powers to address Azerbaijan's actions against Artsakh.{{cite web |title=Chalabyan: No Armenian soldier and commander should be extradited to Azerbaijan |url=https://news.am/eng/news/782696.html |website=news.am |language=en |date=27 January 2025}}

Avetik Chalabyan is married and has four children.{{Citation |title=Moments of Sincerity with Avetik Chalabyan |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZms5DA67MI |language=en |access-date=2022-05-17}}{{cite web |title=Ավետիք Չալաբյան |url=https://mediamax.am/am/authors/1266/ |website=Mediamax.am |language=en}}

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Category:Armenian activists

Category:Living people

Category:1972 births