Yerevan court refuses to arrest Yerkir Media head

A first instance court in Yerevan on Saturday rejected a motion by prosecutors to put Bagrat Yesayan, the director of Armenia’s opposition TV channel Yerkir Media, in pre-trial custody, his lawyer Vahe Yeprikian said.

“The motion for Bagrat Yesayan’s unlawful arrest has been rejected,” he wrote on Facebook, thanking the court for the “fair decision”.

Officers of the National Security Service broke into the editorial office of Yerkir Media and detained Bagrat Yesayan on Friday.

He is charged with “inciting mass riots and obstructing journalists' lawful professional activities” at the demonstrations in Yerevan on November 10, 2020.