Yerevan court refuses to release ex-defense minister

Panorama

Armenia – June 14 2023

The Anti-Corruption Court in Yerevan has rejected a request to release Armenia’s former Defense Minister David Tonoyan from custody, his lawyer Sergey Hovhannisyan told 24News on Wednesday.

At the previous court hearing, Tonoyan’s legal team filed a motion to the court to free him given that 11 out of 15 witnesses in the case had already been questioned.

“The court has denied the motion," Hovhannisyan said, unveiling plans to challenge the decision in a higher court.

Tonoyan was arrested in 2021 on fraud and embezzlement charges related to purchases of faulty weaponry and ammunition for Armenia's armed forces.

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS