Gagik Khachatryan, former Minister of Finance and former Chairman of the State Revenue Committee of Armenia, is receiving the necessary and proper medical care in the penitentiary, in accordance with the procedure established by law, said health minister's spokesperson Mariam Tsatryan.

"Gagik Khachatryan and, in general, detainees [in Armenia] receive necessary and proper medical care and services in penitentiaries in accordance with the procedure established by law. If necessary, they are referred for a narrowly specialized medical examination. We ask to refrain from unnecessary speculation," Tsatryan wrote on social media.

Earlier today, Gagik Khachatryan's legal defense team announced that 16 days after Khachatryan's pretrial detention and transfer to Yerevan-Kentron Penitentiary, he had not yet received medical care appropriate to his health condition.

On September 1, it became known that Khachatryan had been arrested and transferred to the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

His legal team has released footage, noting that domestic legal remedies for Khachatryan’s treatment have been exhausted, and the former official’s health condition remains critical. According to his legal team, Khachatryan was diagnosed with spinal stenosis back in 2015. He has special implants installed in his neck, which, according to the lawyers, are not used in Armenia.

On September 2, Gagik Khachatryan was placed under pretrial detention for two months. He is accused of taking a particularly large bribe and money laundering. As part of the respective criminal case, investigative and procedural actions were carried out in the homes of Khachatryan and his son, as well as in the offices and branches of about 21 companies affiliated with them.