Armenia places ex-Karabakh separatist Arzumanyan under house arrest

After spending three years in custody, former commander of the Karabakh separatist forces Mikael Arzumanyan has been placed under house arrest by the decision of Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court, his lawyer announced on Facebook.

The lawyer specified that the decision to change Arzumanyan’s preventive measure was made by the Court’s Judge Vardges Sargsyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Arzumanyan was arrested on charges of official negligence in organising the defence of the city of Shusha and nearby areas. According to Armenia’s Investigative Committee, between October 30 and November 9, 2020, during the organisation of Shusha’s defence, the “lieutenant general demonstrated negligent attitude toward his official duties by failing to perform them properly, thereby causing grave consequences through carelessness.”

Mikael Arzumanyan was appointed commander of the Karabakh separatist forces in the final stage of the 44-day war in 2020, replacing Jalal Harutyunyan. He was dismissed from his post in September 2021.

By Khagan Isayev