Yerevan court again denies bail for Manvel Grigoryan

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction under presiding judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, fully rejected on Tuesday a defense motion to release Manvel Grigoryan, a retired Armenian army general and a former Republican lawmaker facing various criminal charges, from custody on bail pending the outcome of his trial.

The petition was earlier filed by Grigoryan’s lawyer who  cited  negative dynamics of the ex-general’s  illness that can lead to an unpredictable situation. The lawyer’s arguments were rejected by the prosecutors.  

Grigoryan is charged with embezzlement of army supplies and illegal procurement and possession of firearms and ammunition in large quantities in a prior agreement with his wife, son and several other individuals, tax evasion and extortion. He was initially arrested on 19 June last year after being stripped of his parliamentary immunity.