Lawyer Alexander Kochubayev detained for two months

The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction, presided over by judge Masis Melkonyan, has ordered a two-month detention for lawyer Alexander Kochubayev, his attorney Roman Yeritsyan reported on Friday.

Kochubayev faces charges under Article 490(2) of the Criminal Code (the disclosure of defamatory information about a judge, prosecutor or investigator in connection with their official duties.)

Kochubayev was arrested on Thursday. Human rights activist Ruben Melikyan revealed that after a court hearing in the case of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and his supporters, masked NSS officers forcibly removed Kochubayev from his car and took him away.