Armenian Investigative Committee refutes information on Telegram blogger

The Armenian Investigative Committee has stated that the charges against Telegram blogger Mika Badalyan have not been dropped.

Armenian blogger Mika Badalyan having hatred towards Azerbaijan was detained by the police on April 22, and then arrested, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Armenian media.

The Armenian Investigation Committee submitted a petition for Badalyan’s arrest to the court, which, however, was rejected, and Badalyan was released from custody, one of Badalyan’s lawyers Erik Aleksanyan said.

Later, the blogger announced via Telegram that the charges against Badalyan had been dropped, representative of the Homeland party Arsen Babayan wrote on his Facebook page, stressing that the charges against Mika Badalyan were dropped, but the Investigative Committee did not confirm this fact.

Badalyan is accused of disseminating false information about a threat of a terrorist attack upon Article 259 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

According to preliminary data, a Telegram user, having no data about a terrorist act which is prepared, published a false message via Telegram on April 11, 2022 that terrorist attacks could be made both in Yerevan and its suburbs to create an emergency situation. 

The Investigation Committee reported that according to the court decision, the house arrest was chosen for Badalyan as a preventive measure.