According to the 21 December decision of the Yerevan City Court of General Jurisdiction, the petition of Deputy Manvel Grigoryan to replace the arrest with the pledge of 25 million drams was satisfied. He was released late last night.

However, the decision of the court did not satisfy a number of Echmiadzin residents who closed the Yerevan-Echmiadzin road as a sign of protest. However, today the mayor of Etchmiadzin city Diana Gasparyan and Chief of the RA Police Valeriy Osipyan met with the demonstrators, after which they opened the road.

In order to clarify other information about Manvel Grigoryan, we tried to contact his advocate Arsen Mkrtchyan, but he did not answer the calls.

Details later.

It should be reminded that as a result of operative-intelligence measures carried out by the National Security Service, data was obtained that the deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Manvel Grigoryan illegally acquired and maintained weapons and ammunition with other persons. A criminal case had been instituted in accordance with Article 235 part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. Investigation has been carried out in Manvel Grigoryan’s house, in the summer house and in other places that he owned. A large number of illegal weapons and ammunition were detected.

MP Manvel Grigoryan was arrested and detained on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 235 (part 2) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (Illegal procurement and possession of weapons and ammunition by a group of persons). The RA NA Speaker was immediately informed about deprivation of the MP of his liberty in the manner provided by Article 96 of the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

Note: A person that is suspected or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent until his/her guilt is proved by a court judgment that has come into legal effect pursuant to the procedure determined by RA Criminal Procedure Code.