Armen Gevorgyan Seeks to Travel to Austria for Medical Examination

The former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia, Armen Gevorgyan, who is charged with assisting in the subversion of constitutional order in the "March 1" case, has had his lawyer, Erik Aleksanyan, recently petition the court to lift the travel restriction imposed on Gevorgyan, or alternatively, to permit him to be absent from the republic for one week.

According to Aleksanyan, the travel restriction imposed on Gevorgyan during the ongoing pre-trial proceedings should be revoked, as the decision by the prosecuting authority was initially illegal and unjustified. "Over the past year, Armen Gevorgyan's right to free movement has been unlawfully restricted. The investigator did not mention any grounds for applying a travel restriction in their decision. Moreover, the court has noted that there is a complete absence of grounds for imposing such a measure on Gevorgyan, as confirmed by higher courts. Under these circumstances, no type of restriction can be imposed on Gevorgyan, and if it has been imposed, it is subject to cancellation," he stated.

Aleksanyan pointed out that the investigating body has also failed to overcome the threshold of reasonable suspicion in this case. He urged the court to consider Gevorgyan's request to leave the republic temporarily from October 26 to November 4, given that he needs to undergo a scheduled medical examination in Austria, for which relevant documents have been submitted to the court.

Gevorgyan himself announced that he undergoes annual examinations related to heart vessels at an Austrian clinic. He also mentioned that during his visit, he intends to conduct practical negotiations.

The prosecutor in the case, Gevorg Baghdasaryan, and representatives of the injured party objected to the presented motion. Baghdasaryan stated that Gevorgyan has not provided specific arguments that his treatment cannot be ensured here and the importance of his business meetings abroad.

The court has retreated to the consultative room to make a decision regarding the motion, which will be announced on October 8 at 1 PM.

It is worth noting that Armen Gevorgyan is charged under Article 38-300.1, Part 1, Article 311, Part 4, Point 2, and Article 190, Part 3, Point 1 of the RA Criminal Code for assisting in the subversion of the constitutional order, receiving large-scale bribes, and legalizing property obtained through criminal means. A travel restriction has been imposed on Gevorgyan.