The former mayor of Vanadzor has had his ban on absence lifted, according to a court ruling.

ArmInfo. The preventive measure against Mamikon Aslanyan, former mayor of Vanadzor and member of the Strong Armenia parliamentary faction, has been lifted. The corresponding decision was made at a hearing on September 18 by Anti-Corruption Court Judge Sarkis Petrosyan.

During the hearing, the defense stated the need to lift the preventive measure against Aslanyan, given that he was elected Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration of the National Assembly of Armenia. Furthermore, the lawyer petitioned to allow Aslanyan to be absent from hearings and to lift the ban on absence, given that the MP will need to travel on business trips.

After hearing both sides, the judge decided to lift the ban on absence. As an alternative measure, Petrosyan imposed a bail of 3 million drams on the former mayor of Vanadzor.

As a reminder, Aslanyan was detained on December 15, 2021, and subsequently arrested. He was charged with abuse of office and official forgery between 2016 and 2021. Specifically, he is accused of committing numerous frauds and abuses of office during the land privatization process. He denies guilt. His defense team considered this charge political persecution. He was held in custody for two years and seven months. In July 2024, the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia released Aslanyan on bail of 10 million drams and a written undertaking not to leave the country. On January 29, 2025, the court found Aslanyan guilty and sentenced him to four years and four months' detention, a fine, and a three-year ban on holding public office. However, taking into account the time spent in custody, Aslanyan was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison and a fine of 500,000 drams. In July 2026, the Anti-Corruption Committee separated the case and filed a new charge against Aslanyan.