August 10, 2021 – Montreal, Canada.
In 2017, Pierre Akkelian sued the AJA, Gagik Gevorkyan and Sarkis Nourian for spreading falsehoods and slanderous statements and for a breach of AJA bylaws that led to Akkelian being unlawfully expelled from the AJA – an organization that he founded and faithfully served since its inception in 1997.
Earlier this year, The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit unanimously affirmed the US District Court for the Central District of California decision rendered in 2017 that found Gevorkyan, Nourian and the AJA jointly and severaly guilty, awarding Akkelian one million dollars in damages and penalties.
Akkelian and the defendants agreed to settle the case with payments of an undisclosed amount along with apologies from Gagik Gevorkyan admitting “It was wrong of me to involve the AJA in personal and business grievances to deflect attention from an unfavorable arbitration award…I regret my role in your expulsion from the AJA.” And from the AJA: “The statements published in AJA newsletters defaming you were not true, and our claim of your wrongdoing were unsubstantiated, unjustified and erroneous. The subsequent public shaming is a stain on our organization…We acknowledge that the actions taken to expel you at the AJA’s General Assembly and Board meeting on October 28, 2016, were improper, as they were neither in accordance with the bylaws of the AJA nor consistent with applicable norms of due process. All decisions taken thereat must be considered null and void”.
Akkelian is grateful for the support of AJA members throughout the long ordeal. Specifically, thankful to AJA Int. and regional founding members and outstanding leaders, Vartkess Knadjian (UK), Harout Missirian (LB), Hovel Chenorhokian (FR), Simon Ghanimian (US), Nazareth Sabounjian (LB), Kevork Kolanian (GR) and Leo Yapar (CA) for their testimonials refuting the defendants’ false narrative and claims.
Akkelian would like to thank all AJA members who have for more than two decades contributed towards making the AJA a resounding success! The AJA was the first pan-Armenian industrial initiative of the post-soviet era and is the envy of the industry and the pride of the Nation of Jewellers. Akkelian calls on all progressive members of the community to unite and relaunch a rejuvenated AJA.
“Armenians are to jewellery what the Swiss are for watches, and for over half a millennium we have contributed immensely to the development of the world’s jewellery industry and trade” says Akkelian. “Now more than ever, post-pandemic and after a humiliating 44-day war, Armenians need the AJA and similar Pan-Armenian professional and trade networks, in all fields of national interest, to strengthen their ties with our compatriots, and to share the knowledge and expertise needed to insure the survival and prosperity of the Global Armenian Nation.”
Jewellers are invited to join the soon-to-be launched pan-Armenian network https://hyeconnect.org jewellers’ group by contacting Ani Hovhanissyan Ani@AJF.foundation. HyeConnect is a digital platform that will connect Armenians around the world to create communities of interests and is supported by System of a Down’s Serj Tankian, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, Eric Esrailian of The Promise Institute, and Armenian Virtual College founder Yervant Zoryan.
Pierre Akkelian is the past-President of Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA). He is the President of Canadian Gem & the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Armenian Jewellers Foundation (AJF), Established in 2013 to Advance the Heritage of Armenians in Jewellery.
Pierre Akkelian was aptly represented (in court) and thankful to Karnig Kerkonian of KERKONIAN DAJANI LLC & Talin Yacoubian of YACOUBIAN & POWELL, LLP for securing a rightful defamation judgment. Also grateful for the legal services rendered by Yuri Kravchenko of Russia, Tatevik Sargsyan from Armenia, and Gerard Kassabian of USA.
For more information please contact PR@CanadianGem.com
