YEREVAN. – Armenia’s ex-ecology minister Aram Harutyunyan has not left the country, his attorney Karen Hakobyan told reporters.

He confirmed the reports that his client who faces bribery and money laundering charges was barred from flying from Zvartnots airport.

Hakobyan explains ex-minister’s aspiration to leave the airport by an attempt to accompany his wife who left to undergo treatment abroad. The attorney believes there was a violation of the law, as his client had neither the status of a suspect, of a defendant, nor of a witness.

Earlier the court ruled that ex-minister should be arrested. A search was declared for the ex-official.