The trial of Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan, her assistant Tamara Petrosyan, and lawyer Erik Aleksanyan continued at the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court on February 19. The session is presided over by Judge Vahe Dolmazyan.
On October 17, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Council approved the Prosecutor General’s Office’s motions to initiate criminal prosecution against Judge Arusyak Aleksanyan and consent to her deprivation of liberty. Within the same case, lawyer Erik Aleksanyan was also charged under Article 46-441 of the Criminal Code for aiding an official in abusing power or official authority or influence conditioned by them, or exceeding authority. Arusyak Aleksanyan’s assistant Tamara Petrosyan was also charged in this case.
According to the charges, the judge made an obviously unfair judicial act and abused official powers. She granted the motion of Erik Aleksanyan, the defense lawyer of Sergey Grigoryan (known by the nickname “Faz” and considered a criminal authority), changed his preventive measure, and released him from detention for 2.5 million drams bail. Sergey Grigoryan is a friend of Arusyak Aleksanyan’s brother, Rustam Aleksanyan.
According to Iravaban.net, before proceeding to Arusyak Aleksanyan’s defense attorney’s closing speech, the court discussed changing or eliminating the preventive measure based on a motion presented by her defense.
Arusyak Aleksanyan’s defender stated that there has been a change in the conditions for applying the preventive measure, and as of February 5, 2025, when other defendants and their defenders have made their closing speeches, there can be no question of Aleksanyan influencing the defendants.
“The defense proposes to the anti-corruption court real estate as bail, which will be presented to the court for the first time in its type and size, combined with a ban on absence, and even if the court finds it necessary, administrative supervision along with the application of preventive measures,” he noted.
The presented real estate included land plots in Yeghvard city of Kotayk region, with a total value exceeding 40 million drams.
It was also noted that when applying administrative supervision and setting restrictions on leaving the residence at certain hours of the day, to consider that Arusyak Aleksanyan is studying at the Advocacy Academy. The defender based the submitted motion on the reasoning present in the decisions of the Anti-Corruption Chamber of the Court of Cassation, the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeals, as well as several precedent-setting decisions of the European Court.
According to the defense, for 2.5 years already, Arusyak Aleksanyan’s physical freedom continues to remain restricted, which no longer serves its purposes.
The court was presented with state registration documents of the land plots serving as bail objects and land plot assessment reports. Also presented was the application of the landowner, Vazgen Galstyan, who was noted to be the godson of Arusyak Aleksanyan’s father.
Presiding Judge Vahe Dolmazyan asked the defender if the latter had been warned that if the conditions of the preventive measure are violated, the mentioned property could pass to the state by court decision. The defender said the submitted application testifies to this, and he is aware of all possible consequences.
The judge also asked if the issue had been discussed with the client in case alternative preventive measures are deemed suitable but the real estate is not acceptable. The defender said bail was offered in the form of property, and if the court finds that monetary means are applicable, the issue of presenting bail in monetary expression will be discussed; now they propose that the court accept 40 million as bail, also presenting the possibility of real estate as an alternative.
Arusyak Aleksanyan’s other defender, Yerem Sargsyan, also expressed his position regarding the submitted motion: “We have reached a stage where there is no more action to be taken, no investigation process, except that we also need to present our closing speeches. In this regard, the court will have no argument to substantiate all this in a weighty manner. With all his professionalism, the public prosecutor will not be able to bring such arguments that would justify the extension of house arrest because such arguments do not exist in objective reality, and there will be no argument about it.”
Public prosecutor Robert Mheryan objected to the submitted motion, saying that the appellate court decision referenced by the defense related to the discussion of the preventive measure, as a result of which the court recorded the legitimacy of the decision made and the absence of grounds for its reversal.
After lengthy discussions, the court decided to change the house arrest preventive measure applied to defendant Arusyak Aleksanyan. An alternative preventive measure of bail was applied – 25 million drams, while the presiding judge announced that the two real estate properties in Kotayk region presented by the defenders could also be accepted as bail.
“Administrative supervision” and “ban on absence” preventive measures were applied in combination, prohibiting contact with defendants Erik Aleksanyan and Tamara Petrosyan, their defenders, and all witnesses interrogated during the trial.
Administrative supervision will be carried out through electronic devices, which the defendant is obligated to wear constantly.
The next court session in the case will take place on February 21.
Recall that Arusyak Aleksanyan was arrested in 2022, and on March 13, 2024, the preventive measure applied to her was changed to house arrest.
Details in the video.
Mariam Shahnazaryan
