Director of Synergy Released Amid US Embassy Pressures: 'Facts'

The founder and director of Synergy, Ashot Hovhannisyan's detention measures have been changed due to pressures from the US Embassy in Armenia. This was reported by the 'Facts' newspaper, citing its sources.

According to our sources, this issue was also among the key topics discussed during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's meeting with the US Ambassador to Armenia, Kristina Quinn, on February 6, although no mention of it was made in the official communication.

'Facts' learns that despite the court's ban on any visits, the US ambassador was allowed to visit the prison and meet Ashot Hovhannisyan.

It is noteworthy that while the ambassador of a country considered democratic has not expressed any opinion regarding dozens of political prisoners in Armenia, she showed concern regarding the director of Synergy. Perhaps the principle of 'democracy separately, the country's business interests separately' is at play here,” the newspaper concludes.

Recall that on February 21, it was announced that the detention measures applied to Ashot Hovhannisyan, director of Synergy, were changed at the initiative of the prosecutor. The prosecutor instructed the investigating body to apply combined alternative detention measures—bail, a prohibition on leaving, and guarantees.