Armenia releases lawyer detained over pro-Church post But now he faces travel ban

In Armenia, lawyer Alexander Kochubaev’s pretrial measure has been changed — his detention has been replaced with a travel ban.

Aleksanyan’s statement was also confirmed by the adviser to the Prosecutor General, Lusine Martirosyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

On October 16, Kochubaev published a harsh post on social media regarding the arrest of the head and chancellor of a diocese of the Armenian Church. On the same day, officers of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) detained the lawyer. A criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 490 of the Armenian Criminal Code. The article provides for liability for publishing information that damages the honour and dignity of a judge, prosecutor, or investigator, and causes other harm to their lawful rights and interests in connection with their official or professional activities.

Kochubaev was also the lawyer for former Armenian Deputy Prime Minister Armen Gevorkyan and the lawyer for the son of Armenia’s second president, Robert Kocharyan.

By Khagan Isayev