Armen Ashotyan's house arrest extended by three months

An Armenian court has extended the house arrest of Armen Ashotyan, the vice chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, for an additional three months. The decision follows arguments from Prosecutor Mane Safaryan, who suggested that Ashotyan’s public standing and former high-ranking positions could allow him to influence witnesses or interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings.

Ashotyan is facing charges related to the alleged illegal transfer of property belonging to Brusov State University from state ownership to private hands during his tenure as Minister of Education and Science between 2009 and 2016. Investigators claim the scheme involved the misappropriation of real estate in Yerevan valued at approximately 208.9 million drams.

Ashotyan and his legal team deny all allegations, maintaining that the prosecution is politically motivated. His recent arrest in June 2026 occurred shortly before parliamentary elections, following his active role in opposition campaigning and criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.