Artur Sargsyan, a member of the Hayastan parliamentary faction, will remain under house arrest for another two months. During the latest court hearing in the Sacred Struggle case, presiding judge Karen Farkhoyan rejected motions filed by defense lawyers.
The court only eased the terms of house arrest by allowing Sargsyan to meet any individuals except participants and witnesses involved in the Sacred Struggle case, Sputnik Armenia reported.
Defense lawyer Emin Khachatryan had requested that Sargsyan’s house arrest be replaced with administrative supervision, accompanied by an increase in bail from 20 million drams to 25 million drams.
Khachatryan reminded the court that Sargsyan is a parliamentary candidate in the June 7 elections and argued that keeping him under house arrest violates legal requirements for equal conditions for candidates.
The prosecution opposed changing the preventive measure and additionally requested a three-month extension of house arrest. Public prosecutor Hayk Hovhannisyan acknowledged that risks of interfering with the investigation had decreased but argued that such risks still remained.
“The risks of obstructing proceedings and failing to fulfill procedural obligations continue to exist. It is true that preliminary hearings have ended and the case has moved to the main trial stage, but the examination of evidence has not yet been conducted,” Hovhannisyan said.
Regarding participation in the election campaign, the prosecutor argued that Sargsyan could take part in the electoral process through authorized representatives.
Khachatryan countered that his client could not fully participate in the campaign solely through representatives.
“How do you imagine Artur Sargsyan exercising his rights under these conditions? He is a parliamentary candidate and must have the opportunity to communicate with society. If the measure is not replaced with a milder one today, this will constitute direct interference in the electoral process, because by communicating with his electorate he may influence the overall voting results. Artur Sargsyan has already proven that he has never violated the obligations imposed on him,” Khachatryan said.
Before the court announced its decision, Sargsyan predicted that the preventive measure would not be changed.
“There is no justice in this court. Decisions here are made from the government building. By extending house arrest, they confirmed that this entire 10-month process is purely political persecution. I am certain that I will remain under arrest until June 8. If dignity wins on June 8, we will be released; if not, we will be convicted. Dear citizens, if this evil government wins on June 7, we will lose Syunik,” Sargsyan declared.
Artur Sargsyan has been detained since July 9, 2025. On December 1, 2025, house arrest was imposed on him, and by a December 4 ruling it was extended until March 8, 2026.
According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, participants and leaders of the “Sacred Struggle” movement had planned terrorist acts and actions aimed at seizing power in Armenia.
