Armenian appellate court upholds guilty verdict against ex-justice minister

On September 30, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling finding former Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan guilty of abuse of office during his time in office, the Prosecutor General's Office reported.

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction earlier convicted Tovmasyan on two counts under Article 308(1) of the Criminal Code. However, he was freed from criminal liability because the statute of limitations had expired in 2019.

Both prosecutors and the defense appealed the verdict. The prosecution challenged the legal classification and the application of the statute of limitations, while the defense team sought Tovmasyan’s acquittal. The appellate court rejected all appeals, leaving the original verdict intact.