Former State Oversight Service chief David Sanasaryan acquitted

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge Davit Balayan, has acquitted the former head of Armenia’s State Oversight Service, David Sanasaryan, citing a lack of evidence of a crime.

Sanasaryan had been charged under Article 308(1) of Armenia’s 2003 Criminal Code for abuse of office. Prosecutors claimed he misused his position for group interests and failed to fulfill official duties while leading the oversight agency. He had been under a travel ban during the investigation.

Following the verdict, Sanasaryan expressed gratitude on Facebook on Thursday: “Thank you to everyone who never doubted me for a second and stood by my side. Without you, justice would have suffocated in the corners of the chekist system.”