Armenia bans ex-president Sargsyan from leaving country

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee has imposed a travel ban on former President Serzh Sargsyan in connection with a case dating back to 2019, his lawyer has said.

Sargsyan’s lawyer, Amram Makinyan, announced on social media that a new charge had been brought against the ex-president, leading to the restriction on his movement, Caliber.Az reports per Armenian media.

Makinyan said the committee unexpectedly summoned Sargsyan late on Wednesday evening, shortly after a court rejected the prosecution’s request to prevent him from leaving the country.

He added that the decision was made under the pretext of reopening proceedings related to the same 2019 episode.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Armen Ashotyan commented in a Facebook livestream that the case concerns testimony previously given by the late businessman Mikhail Baghdasarov.

On October 10, Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court upheld former president Serzh Sargsyan’s bail at 30 million drams ($75,000) but lifted his travel ban after a closed-door hearing on October 10, requested by his lawyers.

His attorney, Amram Makinyan, called the restriction “unjustified” and dismissed flight risk concerns, stating no one would believe the ex-president would flee.

Sargsyan (2008–2018), ousted in the 2018 Velvet Revolution amid corruption claims, faced embezzlement charges over a 2013 fuel subsidy; he was acquitted in June 2025, but a retrial was ordered in April 2025. New bribery and business interference charges emerged in May 2025.

As opposition leader of the I Have Honour bloc, Sargsyan denied all allegations as politically motivated and vowed to challenge Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government.

By Aghakazim Guliyev