Former MP Vanik Asatryan to Remain in Custody

Former MP Vanik Asatryan will continue to remain in custody. The Court of Appeal, chaired by Judge Vazgen Rishtuni, has rejected the defense's appeal against the court's decision to select custody as a measure of restraint for Vanik Asatryan.

It was previously reported that Asatryan has been charged under Point 2 of Article 38-154.2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia for allegedly distributing electoral bribes during the 2017 elections, following a criminal case initiated by the Prosperous Armenia Party. Custody was chosen as a restraint measure for him. The defense filed an appeal against the court's decision, disputing the existence of reasonable suspicion as well as the grounds for custody.

In the same case, charges have also been brought against the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, Gagik Tsarukyan, for giving electoral bribes under Point 2 of Article 38-154.2 of the Criminal Code, and former MP Abraham Manukyan from the Prosperous Armenia faction has also been charged with the same offense.