Court lifts travel ban on MP Artsvik Minasyan

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Anticorruption Court has annulled the restriction preventing Artsvik Minasyan, MP from the Hayastan parliamentary faction, from leaving the country, Pastinfo reports.

The decision was made by Judge Sargis Petrosyan during a hearing on the case involving Seyran Ohanyan, Minasyan, and others.

Defense lawyer Benik Galstyan petitioned the court to lift the measure, arguing it was overly harsh. He noted that Minasyan is scheduled to participate in an OSCE ODIHR and PACE joint mission.

The prosecution opposed the request and instead proposed bail, which Minasyan rejected as humiliating for a member of parliament. He stressed that his professional background and public service made such measures unacceptable.

“This is a fabricated case. In the end, the prosecution will be the one to apologize,” Minasyan said.

The court ultimately granted the defense’s motion and removed the restriction.

The criminal case involves former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan, Artsvik Minasyan, and others, linked to the acquisition of land within the Sevan National Park. Prosecutors claim Ohanyan illegally appropriated state land to build a private residence, allegedly using military police for security. Minasyan, who was minister for only two days at the time of the alleged events, denies any wrongdoing. Co-defendants include Ashot Grigoryan, Levon Barseghyan, Beniamin Ghalecyan, and Edgar Grigoryan.