Human rights defender Ruben Melikyan has confirmed that Mamikon Aslanyan, the former leader of Vanadzor, will remain in custody as the court rejected his petition to be released. Aslanyan has been in prison since December 2021 on charges of expropriating lands in Vanadzor through falsified documents during his tenure. Two of his subordinates, including a lawyer and the chief architect of the community, have also been charged but are currently free.
Despite being charged with expropriation, Aslanyan believes that the case against him is politically motivated and part of a larger political agenda. He maintains that he was unjustly removed from office after winning re-election in the 2021 elections.
Aslanyan expressed his views on the situation, stating that the timing of his arrest and the accusations against him point to a case driven by political interests. Despite legal proceedings against him, Aslanyan remains convinced that he is innocent and believes that he was wrongfully convicted.
