The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction denied a motion to allow Armenia’s former Deputy Prime Minister and current MP Armen Gevorgyan from opposition 'Armenia' bloc to leave the country and attend the regular PACE session on January 23-29. 

To note, Gevorgyan has been charged with assisting in an ‘overthrow of the constitutional order’ as part of the March 1 criminal probe, as well as corruption and money laundering.       

Gevorgyan's lawyer Lusine Sahakyan had petitioned the court in December to either remove the restrictions on her client’s free movement or allow him to leave the country from January 24 to 28 to attend the regular session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Gevorgyan was expected to take part in it as part of the Armenian delegation to the PACE.

The Court, presided by judge Anna Danibekyan, however, didn't deem it necessary to change the preventive measure imposed on Gevorgyan and instead suggested  that the lawmaker could take part in the session works online. Furthermore, the court informed that on January 25 a court hearing is set in the case of R.Kocharyan and others to which Gevorgyan's absence is inadmissible. 

Georgyan, in turn, informed that in case he is unable to leave the country, he would need to attend the session online and would not be able to participate in the court hearing.