Armenia submits second extradition request to Russia for former prosecutor general

Armenia has officially appealed to the Russia to extradite former Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan to Armenian law enforcement authorities.

In response to a written inquiry, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia confirmed that on December 17 it sent an official petition to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia requesting Kostanyan’s extradition to facilitate criminal prosecution, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

This marks Armenia’s second attempt to secure Kostanyan’s return, following a previous request that was rejected by the Russian side.

On November 18, Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan announced in the National Assembly that, alongside Kostanyan, Armenia would also seek the extradition of Vahagn Harutyunyan, the former head of the investigative group in the March 1 case. To date, no updates have been provided regarding Harutyunyan’s extradition request.

Gevorg Kostanyan, at the time of the March 1, 2008 events—when widespread clashes erupted in central Yerevan following the presidential election between supporters of opposition candidate and former President Levon Ter-Petrosyan and law enforcement authorities—served as Deputy Minister of Justice. Subsequently, from July 2013 to August 2016, he held the office of Prosecutor General of Armenia.

By Vafa Guliyeva