Gagik Tsarukyan's detention appealed, lawyer says

Armenian opposition leader, businessman and philanthropist Gagik Tsarukyan has appealed his pretrial detention to Armenia's Criminal Court of Appeals, his lawyer, Emin Yeritsyan, said on Friday.

Yeritsyan said the defense appeal argues that the lower court committed both substantive and procedural legal violations in ordering Tsarukyan's detention. It also challenges the existence of reasonable suspicion, the legality of his arrest and detention, and contends that the court failed to properly consider alternative measures short of detention.

"The defense hopes that the Court of Appeals will conduct a comprehensive, objective and impartial review of the case, ensuring effective protection of the rights to a fair trial and personal liberty," Yeritsyan said in a statement.