Armenia's former chief prosecutor to remain in custody

Armenia’s former Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepyan will remain in pre-trial custody as judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction on Friday denied a defense motion to release him.

Hovsepyan’s lawyers had asked the court to release their client on bail.

“The judge would have been punished if he had ordered Aghvan Hovsepyan’s release,” one of his lawyers, Yerem Sargsyan, told reporters.

He said the defense would appeal the ruling in a higher court. Also, the lawyer unveiled plans to bring the case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

Hovsepyan was arrested in September 2021, being charged with bribery, money laundering and illegal entrepreneurial activity.