As we reported earlier, on 5 November, the advocates of former MP Manvel Grigoryan filed a petition to the court to lift or replace his detention with another measure of restraint.

The court, presided over by Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan, decided to reject the motion of the defendants, and Manvel Grigoryan would remain in custody.

 “The motion is rejected on the grounds that it is unjustified,” the judge said.

It should be noted that Manvel Grigoryan was not present at the hearing. Earlier Mnatsakan Martirosyan published a letter from Manvel Grigoryan, according to which Grigoryan transferred to the court deposit account as compensation for the potential damage the 100% shares of Ara and Aytsemnik OJSC, about 109 units of real estate, 20% of which are yet inventoried and amounted to about 1.5 billion money, which he owned.

Note that 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.