Vitaly Balasanyan Remains Detained as Appeal is Rejected

The former Secretary of the Security Council of Artsakh, Vitaly Balasanyan, will continue to remain in detention. Balasanyan's attorney, Raphael Martirosyan, announced on his Facebook page that the appeal regarding the legality of the detention has been rejected.

It is important to note that Vitaly Balasanyan was detained on the evening of July 13. It has also been reported that his son and nephew were similarly arrested. The general was taken from his home in Askeran, in a demonstrative fashion, with masked officers twisting his arms.

Raphael Martirosyan, a member of the Artsakh Republic Bar Association, noted on his Facebook page that Balasanyan has multiple injuries on his body.

Later, the Artsakh Republic's Prosecutor General's Office provided clarifications regarding Balasanyan's detention. According to the prosecution, the Foundation for Support of Rural and Agricultural Development of Artsakh had approached the prosecutor's office, stating that based on a decision made by the board of trustees of the foundation on June 14, 2021, a targeted loan agreement was made with Askeran resident A.B., providing a loan of 74,500,000 AMD (seventy-four million five hundred thousand AMD) to acquire beekeeping families. However, the borrower A.B. did not use the funds for the intended purpose and did not acquire beekeeping families. A criminal case has been initiated.