On 15 July, the trial in the case of the former Mayor of Vanadzor Mamikon Aslanyan continued in the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court. The Presiding Judge Sargis Dadoyan.

Let’s remind that Mamikon Aslanyan is accused of expropriating Vanadzor lands by making false documents during his tenure. According to the indictment, Suren Abovyan helped Vanadzor Community Head Mamikon Aslanyan, who is an official, to exceed the official powers and commit official forgery.

According to Iravaban.net, At the court hearing, two of the witnesses summoned to the court were interrogated.

The first witness stated that she participated in the announced auction with Anahit Ghazumyan, during which Ghazumyan was declared the winner.

Anahit Ghazumyan’s testimony in court here .

In response to Public Prosecutor Narek Movsisyan’s question about Anahit Ghazumyan, the witness said that she is the director of the Vanadzor school, and she is the accountant of the school, and they were in a working relationship with the latter.

The witness said that she did not know how Anahit Ghazumyan learned about the auction, and that her participation was “formal”.

She added that if it was only Ghazumyan, the auction would not have taken place, that was why she helped her, and before that they filled out an application and made the appropriate payment.

To the judge’s question, whether Suren Abovyan and Ararat Hovhannisyan, the employees of the community administration, give any advice to Anahit Ghazumyan that they should participate in the auction in such a manner?

The witness said that she did not know them, and Anahit Ghazumyan had not said anything to her.

Next, the witness Rudik Varosyan was interrogated, he stated that he had known Mamiko Aslanyan for a long time, they are in close relations, he knew Suren Abovyan as the architect of the community, and he was also in working relations with Ararat Hovhannisyan.

He stated that he was not aware of the details of the case, he was involved as a victim in order to get to know and protect the interests of the community.

Mamikon Aslanyan’s defense attorney Artak Oskanyan asked if, as a representative of the community, the witness could say whether it was possible for the community to be morally harmed, the witness said that since he was not aware of the details of the case, it was very difficult to measure or indicate some unit of measurement. Due to this, the justice will determine both the moral and material sizes of the damage caused.

To the defender’s question, whether the community could use the land owned by a natural person, a private person, to serve the interests of the public, the witness assumed that it could, and changing the purpose to an operational one is beyond the authority of the community head.

Witness Rudik Varosyan did not answer what damages the community suffered from the crime attributed to the former mayor, or if the intended purpose of the plot was changed, what impact it would have on the interests of the community.

Accused Mamikon Aslanyan made a statement after questioning the witness.

“I have been in prison for 2 years and 7 months, and I think it has become clear to those sitting here, including the participants of the trial, that there is no need for any influence related to the representative of the last victim or Peleshyan, especially that during the investigation of the criminal case people were not represented.

The very meaning of influence has also been lost. In no way do I want to to jeopardize my teammates and friends by my participation in the political process of Vanadzor at this moment. I even may not communicate, meet, raise any doubts about the influence. My imprisonment has already reached enormous sizes,” Aslanyan said.

During this court session, defense attorney Artak Voskanyan petitioned to remove the measure of restraint against Mamikon Aslanyan, and to choose a signature not to leave.

Prosecutor Narek Movsisyan objected to the petition, because there are still witnesses to be questioned, and the defendant may influence them.

The witness is Arkady Peleshyan, the current leader of Vanadzor. The victim is the representative of the Vanadzor municipality.

Later, the verdict regarding the removal of the measure of restraining against Mamikon Aslanya was published, according to which the mayor of Vanadzor will be released on bail of 10 million AMD.

On 16 July, after leaving Vardashen Prison, Mamiko Aslanyan said that he both expected and did not expect this decision, he again insisted that there is a political context in this process, which he may address later.

Details in the videos.