Attorneys file new motion to release ex-MP Manvel Grigoryan on bail

The attorneys of Manvel Grigoryan, a retired army general and a former Republican lawmaker, have filed a new motion to a first instance court to release him on bail.

“We have filed a motion, as we did before. The measure is part of an ordinary criminal procedure,” Attorney Arsen Mkrtchyan told Panorama.am.

On 19 June 2018, a Yerevan court ruled to arrest Grigoryan, who had earlier been stripped of his parliamentary immunity.

The ex-MP was freed from pre-trial arrest on 21 December on 25 million drams bail – a ruling appealed by the Prosecutor General’s Office.

On 22 January the Yerevan Court of Appeals ruled to re-arrest Grigoryan.

He is charged with embezzling army supplies and illegally possessing firearms after security agents raided his Etchmiadzin villa to discover and confiscate large quantities of illegally stored weapons, explosives and cars, including military vehicles.

The findings also include canned and preserved food labelled “Not for Sale: Soldier’s Ration”, as well as clothing, hygiene items and medicine donated to servicemen during the 2016 April war.