YEREVAN. – The Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan has denied the investigator's petition to arrest Samvel Mkrtchyan, former Director of Nubarashen Penitentiary in Yerevan. This information was confirmed by Mkrtchyan's lawyer Suzanna Khcheyan in a conversation with Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Samvel Mkrtchyan is charged with abuse of powers and inciting to commit official fraud.

According to the Special Investigation Service, this charge has been brought within the framework of a criminal case initiated for causing bodily harm to Vahagn Abgaryan, an inmate of the aforesaid prison—and who is known as a criminal “authority.”