Armenian Foreign Ministry employee accused of treason remains in custody

An employee of the Armenian Foreign Ministry accused of treason remains in custody after a court reclassified the charges and issued a guilty verdict, the Supreme Judicial Council spokesperson said on Saturday.

According to the statement, the Yerevan Court of First Instance, in a closed hearing on March 27, found that the actions attributed to Ashkhen Aleksanyan did not constitute treason but instead fell under abuse of office.

Aleksanyan was originally charged under Article 418 of Armenia’s Criminal Code (treason). However, the court ruled that the offense corresponded to Article 441.1, which covers misuse of official powers or influence resulting in significant harm to state or public interests.

“The legal qualification of the act has been changed and a guilty verdict has been delivered,” the spokesperson said, noting that earlier media reports had presented incomplete information.

Under Article 441, penalties may include fines, disqualification from holding public office, restriction of liberty, or imprisonment of up to four years.

Despite the reclassification of charges, the court decided to leave Aleksanyan in detention following the guilty verdict.

Both the prosecution and the defense plan to appeal the ruling.