Detention Period of Mikael Arzumanyan Extended by 3 Months: Lawyer

The Armenian Anti-Corruption Court has extended the detention period of former Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mikael Arzumanyan, by three months. This was announced by his lawyer, Yerem Sargsyan.

The defense considers the court's decision groundless, as the only argument presented by prosecutors for the extension of the detention was that Arzumanyan’s previous position as commander of the Armed Forces grants him significant authority, which could hinder the investigation, Sargsyan mentioned.

According to the lawyer, Arzumanyan has been in detention for about eight months on the basis of this authority alone, and no other justification has ever been provided. In contrast, he noted that based on the precedent decisions of the Supreme Court of Armenia and the European Court of Human Rights, it is clearly stipulated that if a person can initially be held in detention based on their previous official position, it becomes unacceptable to keep them in prolonged detention solely on this basis as the investigation develops and substantial evidence is collected.

The defense requested the court to consider house arrest with restrictions on contact with others, bail, and a prohibition on leaving, which would unequivocally prevent any potential misconduct, something that Mikael Arzumanyan has never expressed a desire to engage in. However, this request was also rejected.

I emphasize that at least 161 witnesses are expected to be interrogated in this criminal case, which will require several years, and it is apparent that during this period Mikael Arzumanyan should be released from detention. Therefore, the current extension of the detention period is, in this respect, more than unreasonable,” Sargsyan stated.

It is noteworthy that former commander of the Artsakh Armed Forces, Mikael Arzumanyan, was arrested on September 1. He has been charged with negligence in the performance of his duties during the organization of the defense of Shushi and its adjacent areas, which has allegedly resulted in serious consequences, leading to the complete control of the city of Shushi and its surroundings by enemy armed forces, causing losses to the Armenian units.