Duration of Khachatryan's Nephew's Detention Extended: He is a Hostage, Legal Team

The legal team of the Khachatryans issued a statement today, stating, 'Today, the Court of First Instance of Yerevan accepted the investigator's request to extend the detention period of Karen Khachatryan after he has been in custody for 10 months. The basis for the court's decision is the concern of the prosecuting authority that, if released, Karen Khachatryan could exert illegal influence on the participants in the proceedings.'

A question arises: Do the NSS’s proficient investigative bodies and the court believe their own assertion that Karen Khachatryan had been free on bail for about a month since January 22, 2020, and that during that entire period, no investigative actions have been initiated involving him? If there was such a so-called likelihood, what was preventing the prosecuting authority from taking action in a timely manner, especially since Karen Khachatryan was free and as they themselves are 'concerned,' could have influenced those individuals?

The circumstances show that the justifications provided do not surpass the threshold of being a simplistic hypothesis. However, as we witnessed once again today, Karen Khachatryan must continue to be kept in a hostage situation. It should be noted that former head of the Internal Security Department of the State Revenue Committee, Karen Khachatryan, is the nephew of Gagik Khachatryan. His lawyer, Amram Makinyan, has emphasized from day one that the red thread in this case is his surname.'