Artsakh army reserve colonel released

A first instance court in Yerevan has ordered the release of Norayr Aslanyan, an Artsakh army reserve colonel, from pre-trial custody.

In a statement on Wednesday, his lawyers said judge John Hayrapetyan of the Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction granted a defense motion to change his measure of restraint on December 15, almost half a year following his “unlawful detention”.

The court instead decided to place Aslanyan under house arrest and banned him from leaving the country as a measure of restraint.

The army officer is accused of illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition.