The Criminal Court of Appeal of Armenia rejected the prosecutor’s appeal and left the decision of the first instance court on rejecting arrest of Mayor of Meghri Mkhitar Zakyan in effect.

The mayor was charged on the ground of hooliganism, deliberate violation of public order and use of violence against a state official.

From April 20 to 21, during a visit to Syunik Province, citizens of Meghri and Agarak greeted Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan with protests demanding that he leave the province. Pashinyan had instructed the police to respond to the incident coarsely. After the Prime Minister gave the instruction, Mayor of Meghri Mkhitar Zakaryan, as well as the heads and deputy heads of a number of communities were apprehended at night.