Prosecutor's Office Learns from Media That International Arrest Warrant for Mikhail Minasyan Has Been Lifted

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has issued a clarification regarding today's media reports concerning the lifting of the international arrest warrant issued by Interpol for the former ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican, Mikhail Minasyan.

“In the criminal case being investigated by the RA State Revenue Committee's Investigative Department, Mikhail Minasyan was charged on March 17, 2020. His charge was subsequently modified, and he was then involved as an accused under Article 190 (Legalization of proceeds of crime (money laundering)) part 3, point 1 of the RA former criminal code (two episodes), Article 310 (Illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity), and Article 310.1, part 1 (Illegal enrichment) (three episodes), and Article 314 (Official forgery) part 2 (five episodes).

On March 23, 2020, an arrest warrant was issued against him, and relevant documents and justifications related to his charges were submitted to Interpol for declaring an international warrant for M. Minasyan.

In light of today’s media publications, the Prosecutor's Office of the RA has swiftly taken measures to verify the accuracy of the information regarding the cessation of the international arrest warrant for M. Minasyan by Interpol, considering that the Prosecutor's Office had not previously received any official information or notification regarding this matter.

As a result, according to information received from the Police, Interpol’s national central bureau in Armenia has formally notified that following the review of the application submitted by M. Minasyan, Interpol ceased his international search on July 7, 2022. However, the legal basis for this decision was not provided in the mentioned correspondence.

It is also evident from the aforementioned that the claim in media publications stating that the cessation of the international arrest warrant for M. Minasyan was initiated by the competent authorities of Armenia does not reflect the reality.

In any case, considering the aforementioned circumstances, the Prosecutor's Office of the RA is already taking specific measures to clarify the grounds for the cessation of the international arrest warrant declared through Interpol for M. Minasyan, and to initiate the relevant new procedures stemming from this situation,” the clarification states.