10 April 2019, 22:27
In Yerevan, court leaves Manvel Grigoryan in custody
The Criminal Court of Appeal refused to release on bail General Manvel Grigoryan, a member of the Armenian parliament.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 15, in Yerevan, the court granted the investigators' request to extend for two months the arrest of Manvel Grigoryan. The defence promised to challenge the court's decision.
In June 2018, Manvel Grigoryan, leader of the Yerkrapah Volunteer Union, was detained in a case on illicit arms trafficking and embezzlement on a "very large scale." After searches, law enforcers found in the Manvel Grigoryan's house rounds, ammunition, foodstuffs, and firearms. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that the retired General had embezzled the humanitarian aid intended for the army.
The today's decision of the Criminal Court of Appeal was reported by Arsen Mkrtchyan, an advocate of Manvel Grigoryan. The advocate called the court's decision predictable. According to Arsen Mkrtchyan, the court's decision "might be made under anything, but not the law." Meanwhile, the advocate abstained from assessing the actions of the judge.
"Taking into account the fact that Judge Lusine Abgaryan has a reputation as an independent judge, whose name is not connected with investigators or prosecutors, the defence will refrain from assessing the judge's decision until its examination," Arsen Mkrtchyan told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 10, 2019 at 05:55 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Tigran Petrosyan Source: CK correspondent
