House Arrest of Vahan Keriobian Extended: Lawyer Details

Lawyer Tigran Egoryan wrote on his Facebook page: "Dear media representatives, journalists, and all those who are interested and following the case of Vahan Keriobian, the situation regarding the criminal case known to you all is as follows: All defendants in this case are currently at liberty, and most have returned to their previous jobs, including at the Ministry of Economy.

The house arrest of Vahan Keriobian has been extended for another two months until April 12, 2024, with all possible restrictions (he is not even allowed to receive medical services). The justification and reasons for this extension seem laughable at first glance, but in reality, the institutions of justice, particularly the preliminary investigation, prosecutorial supervision, and judicial oversight, continue to be in a state of crisis, with rather low analytical capabilities and significantly dependent on post-Soviet repressive mechanisms.

According to the motion for extension and the court's decision, our justifications concerning V. Keriobian's personal and family circumstances were not taken into account. The personal guarantees of 45 recognized and reputable figures both in Armenia and in international circles were ignored, as was the possibility of applying bail.

According to the official position, the prosecuting body requires V. Keriobian to be kept under arrest for another two months, as they need to review numerous documents in their offices and question one or two more individuals.

I sincerely feel sorry for everyone trapped in this intellectual "darkness." The real reasons are completely different, and we have spoken about them and will continue to do so. We will address all pressing questions in an upcoming press conference as much as possible."