An Armenian court rejected the motion of an investigator to extend the arrest of former prisoner of war Robert Nalbandyan, who was returned to Armenia from Azerbaijani captivity through mediation of the Russian side on Dec. 4. This is what human rights activist Ruben Melikyan wrote on his Facebook page.

“On January 6, Armenian Christmas, the former prisoner of war will be released. Judge Shiroyan rendered this important decision,” Melikyan added.

Robert Nalbandyan was arrested for a month, and the term will expire on Jan. 6, 2022. He was captured when the Azerbaijani troops attacked the eastern border of Armenia and invaded the sovereign territory of Armenia on Nov. 16. The former prisoner of war is charged with violating the rules for on-duty combat or combat service which entailed grave consequences. Nalbandyan doesn’t accept the charges brought against him.

Nalbandyan is a father of three children and has health problems since he received bodily injuries while he was in Azerbaijani captivity, as a result of which he received fractures in his ribs.

Currently, out of the ex-prisoners of war who were captured on Nov. 16 and have been returned to Armenia, five are under arrest, and one was detained yesterday.