Levon Kocharyan is expected to be released from house arrest on January 6, 2023, following a decision on his parole status. This news was announced by Kocharyan’s legal team. The announcement also mentioned that three candidates from the ‘Armenia’ bloc, Mikhrdat Madatyan, Anzhela Nalbandyan, and Gerasim Vardanyan, have filed applications with the Constitutional Court of Armenia to present arguments against their detention.

According to the provisions of the Presidential Decree “On the Definition of Constitutional Norms of the Electoral Code,” the first candidate on the electoral list, Levon Kocharyan, will continue to be placed under house arrest for an additional two months. During this time, he will be supervised by law enforcement officials and provided with necessary medical treatment, if needed. The defense team representing Kocharyan will have the opportunity to present their arguments for granting bail during a session of the central election commission on November 6, 2023.

It is important to note that despite receiving parole status, Kocharyan will not be held in custody due to a decision made by the RA Cassation Court on November 7, 2021 (No. SDHO-1619). This decision obliges all state bodies to strictly comply with its provisions, ensuring freedom of movement. The release of Kocharyan and the two other candidates was a result of the Cassation Court’s decision, which stated that “such probation does not contradict the provisions of the second part of Article 2 of the 96th clause of the RA Constitution.”

Therefore, on November 6, 2023, Levon Kocharyan will attain the status of freedom. However, it is important to clarify that the release on bail does not halt the criminal prosecution. Throughout this case, we have strived to disseminate reliable information, provide additional objective data, and highlight the genuine grounds for criminal prosecution. We have also aimed to shed light on the minimal infringement of freedom of speech by law enforcement bodies. The statement concludes by listing the defenders involved in the case: Aleksandr Kocharyan, Erik Aleksanyan, and Aram Vardanyan.