18:05, 2 July 2007

Armenian ex-MFA remains under arrest for two months

The first instance court of communities Center and Nork-Marash, Yerevan, has extended for two months the arrest of Alexander Arzumanian, former head of the Armenian MFA, accused of money laundering, reports a court representative. The RIA "Novosti" reports that this sustains the case of the investigation department under the Armenian national security service (NSS).

Arzumanian headed the MFA from November 1996 to February 1998. At present, he heads the public organization "Civil Disobedience Movement ". Arzumanian was arrested on May 7. Opposition considers him a political prisoner.

The parliamentary opposition ("Inheritage" party) has initiated collection of signatures on an application for bail and for changing the measure of restraint with regard to Arzumanian.

The "Caucasian Knot" reported that, on June 14, the European Court on Human Rights accepted an application of Arzumanian's lawyer on the violation of the latter's rights and allocated six months to the plaintiff for submitting the necessary documents.