Ex-Armenian culture minister released under amnesty after fraud conviction

Former Armenian Minister of Culture Asmik Poghosyan, who was convicted of aiding and abetting fraud on a particularly large scale, has been granted amnesty.

Armenian media said Poghosyan had been sentenced to four years and six months in prison, Caliber.Az reports.

She was found guilty of abuse of office, as well as aiding and inciting large-scale fraud. The court’s verdict against her entered into force today, January 31. However, the former minister fell under an amnesty and was therefore released from serving her sentence.

It was noted that in autumn 2023, Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced that Asmik Poghosyan, who served as the country’s culture minister from 2012 to 2016 — during the presidency of Serzh Sargsyan — had harmed state interests by abusing her official authority. A criminal case was opened against her.

By a decision of the Anti-Corruption Criminal Court dated November 6, 2025, Poghosyan was found guilty of abuse of office, aiding and inciting fraud on a particularly large scale, and was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

By Tamilla Hasanova