Opposition politician Armen Ashotyan moved to house arrest
Opposition politician Armen Ashotyan was moved to house arrest on Wednesday more than one year after being held in custody.
Ashotyan, a vocal government critic and deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) who served as Armenia’s education minister from 2012-2016, was arrested in June 2023 on charges of abuse of power and money laundering strongly denied by him as politically motivated.
Vahe Dolmazyan, the judge presiding over Ashotyan’s trial, on Tuesday ordered his release from custody on bail worth 25 million drams ($64,000).
Prison officers transported Ashotyan to his house by their vehicle, banning him from meeting his relatives and supporters outside the Nubarashen Penitentiary, as well as speaking to reporters.
Earlier on Wednesday, his lawyer Tigran Atanesyan deplored the law-enforcement decision.
“Such a procedure is not provided by law, but it has become a common practice,” he added.