The lawyers of Armenia’s former President Serzh Sargsyan petitioned judge Vahe Misakyan of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction to lift the signature bond imposed as a measure of restraint on their client at a court hearing involving Sargsyan and several others on Thursday. 

Prosecutor Arsen Martirosyan opposed the defense motion, claiming there are still grounds for the preventive measure against Serzh Sargsyan, and asked the court to reject the request.

In addition to Serzh Sargsyan, charges were also brought against former Armenian Minister of Agriculture Sergo Karapetyan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture Samvel Galstyan, head of a department of the ministry Gevork Harutyunyan and Flash company owner Barsegh Beglaryan. Sergo Karapetyan and Samvel Galstyan died from coronavirus and the criminal proceedings against them were stopped.

Serzh Sargsyan has been charged with organizing an alleged embezzlement of government funds along with the other officials through misuse of official position.

The indictment said that Sargsyan used his official position in January and February 2013, when he was president, to steer a government fuel contract to a particular company that cost the state an additional 489 million drams (roughly $1 million) in subsidies.

At today’s hearing, Barsegh Beglaryan’s lawyer Nikolay Hakobyan also filed a motion to the court to lift the signature bond against his client.

According to the defense lawyer, Barsegh Beglaryan has shown proper behavior all this time and cannot interfere with the investigation and influence its course. The prosecutor opposed this request as well.