Armenian lawyer detained in Yerevan courtroom over social media post supporting clergy

Aleksandr Kochubayev, an Armenian lawyer, was detained by officers of the National Security Service inside the Shengavit District Court in Yerevan.

The arrest was confirmed by Kochubayev’s colleague and close friend, Erik Aleksanyan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Kochubayev was taken from the courtroom during proceedings related to the trial of Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan and 17 of his supporters. The hearing, which began earlier in the day, was closed to the public approximately 30 minutes after it started. The lawyer’s current whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities have yet to disclose further information regarding his detention.

According to preliminary reports, the detention may be linked to a strongly worded social media post made by Kochubayev earlier in the day. The post was reportedly in response to the recent arrest of several clergymen from the Diocese of Aragatsotn of the Armenian Apostolic Church, and expressed criticism over their treatment by authorities.

As of now, there have been no official statements from the Armenian National Security Service or the Armenian Bar Association regarding the incident or the grounds for the detention.

By Vafa Guliyeva