Illegal criminal proceedings against Avetik Chalabyan referred to court: statement by legal team

The legal team of public and political figure Avetik Chalabyan has issued a statement.

“The preliminary investigation into the criminal case against public and political figure Avetik Chalabyan has been completed, and the case has been referred to court. The first court hearing on the case, during which the issue of the unlawful measure of restraint against Avetik Chalabyan will also be examined, will take place on August 21, 2026, at 14: 00 at the Shengavit residence of the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction, presided over by Judge David Balayan. Given that, with the referral of the case to court, the proceedings are no longer subject to the secrecy of the preliminary investigation, the defense team considers it necessary to present to the public the key circumstances of the politically motivated persecution of Avetik Chalabyan,” the statement says.

It is noted that Chalabyan himself has not admitted to the charge against him, calling it a lie “from beginning to end” and a fabricated political order.

“Imprisonment as a measure of restraint against Avetik Chalabyan does not serve to ensure the normal course of the investigation and proper procedural conduct, but is rather a punishment, which is prohibited by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia and international conventions. Imprisonment was chosen as the measure of restraint against Chalabyan on two grounds: the likelihood of obstructing the proceedings and of committing a new crime. Over the month and a half of detention in this case, not a single procedural or evidentiary action has been carried out that Avetik Chalabyan could have obstructed. No witnesses have been questioned; moreover, only actions he could not have obstructed in any case were carried out (for example, ordering an expert examination or sending requests to mobile operators),” the statement notes.

The defense team added that it will consistently use all domestic and international legal instruments to establish that unlawful actions were committed against Avetik Chalabyan, to prove his innocence, to secure his immediate release from pretrial detention, and to restore his good reputation.