Today, April 26, marks the fourth anniversary of the tragedy that took place in 2022 at the Paronyan–Leo intersection in Yerevan, when a vehicle from Nikol Pashinyan’s motorcade struck 28-year-old Sona Mnatsakanyan, who was 31 weeks pregnant.
The vehicle, a Toyota Prado driven by Aram Navasardyan, commander of the Traffic Police escort unit, hit Mnatsakanyan as part of the motorcade. She was transported to Nairi Medical Center but died without regaining consciousness. Her unborn child could not be saved.
After three years of investigation, the court in August 2025 found Navasardyan guilty of violating traffic rules resulting in death and of leaving the scene. He was sentenced to 1.5 years in prison, stripped of his driver’s license for the same period, and ordered to pay compensation to the family.
However, the case remains unresolved.
Navasardyan remains free and continues to work within the same system. The verdict has been appealed by both sides and is currently pending in the Court of Appeal. With the statute of limitations set to expire in April 2027, there is a real possibility that he may never serve his sentence if proceedings continue to stall.
No legal action has been taken regarding the organization of the motorcade or the officials responsible for it.
Mnatsakanyan’s case is not isolated. There have been multiple incidents involving Pashinyan’s motorcade over the years, raising ongoing concerns about public safety and accountability.
Despite periodic coverage of the tragedy, the absence of full context can create the impression that justice has been served. In reality, the case remains open, underscoring broader questions about accountability and systemic impunity.
Today at 18:00, a candlelight vigil will be held at the Leo–Paronyan intersection in memory of Sona Mnatsakanyan and her unborn child, who lost their lives under the wheels of the motorcade.
