Mamikon Aslanyan reiterates he's victim of political persecution
Vanadzor election winner Mamikon Aslanyan, who was released after more than two years of incarceration on Tuesday, again insisted that the charges against him were politically motivated.
Aslanyan, who was arrested after defeating Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s party in a local government election held in December 2021, was released on bail of 10 million drams.
The ex-mayor has been charged with abuse of office and forgery during his tenure.
He said the court order to release him was “neither expected nor unexpected” as he spoke to reporters after leaving the Vardashen Penitentiary.
Asked whether he was released from custody in return for his possible refusal to run in the next local elections, Aslanyan said: “If there had been any arrangement, I’d not have been here. This is completely a process of political persecution.”
The politician said his renewed detention could not be ruled out.