MP Arthur Sargsyan Remains Under House Arrest: Court Extends Term

The term of house arrest imposed on Arthur Sargsyan, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from the 9th convocation, has been extended for another month.

During a court session today regarding the case of Bishop Bagrat and others, the issue of changing the measure of restraint for MP Arthur Sargsyan was extensively discussed.

His lawyer, Aram Vardevanyan, had requested an immediate lifting of the house arrest, citing the Constitutional Court's decision SDO-1619. According to the lawyer, from the moment an individual acquires the status of a member of the National Assembly, they cannot be deprived of their liberty without the consent of the National Assembly, except in cases specified in part 2 of Article 96 of the Constitution.

Vardevanyan also emphasized that the Constitutional Court has stated that an individual cannot continue to be held in a state of deprivation of liberty from the moment they acquire the status of a member of the National Assembly.

He argued that Sargsyan had obtained his parliamentary status on July 21, from the moment of the publication of the Central Electoral Commission's minutes, and therefore the house arrest should be lifted immediately.

However, the court did not accept the defense’s request and extended Arthur Sargsyan's house arrest for another month.