Court Decides to Apply House Arrest to Blogger Armen Alexanyan
The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction of First Instance rejected the motion of the public prosecutor to extend the detention of blogger Armen Alexanyan, who is involved in the “Srbazan Payqar” (Holy Struggle) case, for another three months. By the court’s decision, starting from November 26, house arrest and a prohibition on absence, combined with administrative supervision, will be applied to Alexanyan.
The Prosecutor’s Office had moved to extend the detention, asserting that mild or alternative measures of restraint could not ensure Alexanyan’s proper conduct. The court, however, concluded that the justifications presented were insufficient to extend the detention.
Defense attorney Alexander Kochubaev noted during the court session that the prosecution had not provided clarification on what action Alexanyan could have carried out that would justify the extension of his detention. According to him, the evidence presented against Armen Alexanyan is a TikTok video in which Alexanyan prepares an omelet and talks about conducting a live stream with the participation of a “scarecrow with messy hair.”
Kochubaev emphasized that imprisonment has serious consequences not only for the defendant but also for his family, and in the case of house arrest, he will at least be able to be with his family.