Investigating the Arrest of the Martakert Mayor: Clarifications from the Investigative Committee

The Mayor of Martakert, Misha Gyurjyan, has been released from house arrest due to changes in the regulations set by the Armenian government, according to a statement from the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

Previously, it was reported that Misha Gyurjyan was arrested in May. He faces charges of large-scale fraud and forgery of documents. According to the Investigative Committee, he, along with a group, forged documents and committed theft of a significant asset: a 2010 model 'CHEVROLET LACETTI-1.4' light passenger car valued at 1,935,000 Armenian drams.

The Committee stated, "The decision to terminate the criminal prosecution against Misha Gyurjyan has been unfounded and has clearly led to politically motivated speculation." They noted that the grounds for halting the public criminal prosecution of Gyurjyan stemmed from a government decision issued on October 10. According to this decision, the state registration of ownership rights for vehicles produced prior to 2017, which are not privately owned and found in the territory of Armenia as a result of forced displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh, will be conducted in the name of individuals who are in actual possession or use of those vehicles temporarily under the protection of the region.

The Committee also mentioned that during the period when Gyurjyan registered the vehicle in his name, documents were submitted that did not correspond to reality or did not exist, thus rendering the vehicle unlawfully and gratuitously his own.

The government decision indicates that Gyurjyan's actions cannot be classified as a crime. Therefore, a motion was submitted to terminate the public criminal prosecution against him, which was granted.

It should be noted that Gyurjyan was charged under Article 255, Part 2, Points 1 and 3 (fraud) and Article 457, Part 2 (forgery or use of forged documents, stamps, seals, or forms).

His detention was replaced with house arrest on June 27.