Armenia’s police have officially declined to escort Republican Party Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan, currently under house arrest, to a dental clinic.
His lawyer Tigran Atanesyan told Sputnik Armenia that the police had sent a notice to the judiciary stating that such escorts are beyond their responsibilities. According to police, they only provide escorts for court appearances, while all other transfers fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Service.
Atanesyan acknowledged that the police are correct legally, as escorting to a dentist is not their obligation. However, he added that the Probation Service lacks the capacity—such as appropriate transport—to provide such escorts.
“This means people under house arrest are in a worse position than detainees,” Atanesyan said, “since detainees can access medical care via dedicated units, while those under house arrest, unless critically ill, are denied any treatment.”
He also noted that Judge Vahe Dolmazian, overseeing Ashotyan’s case, has replaced house arrest with administrative supervision in several other cases due to similar health-related escort issues. Atanesyan claimed this practice is common but that Ashotyan is facing discriminatory treatment because of his political role.
“House arrest becomes pointless and dangerous to health when the state fails to fulfill its obligations. These individuals aren’t even allowed to leave for a few hours to see a doctor at their own expense,” he added.
Ashotyan last visited a dentist in February, with a follow-up scheduled two months ago. However, the court motion for that visit was delayed. At the beginning of the month, the court approved six dental visits for him, specifying dates and times. “Technically, the court did its job, but what’s the use if it knew the decision couldn’t be implemented?” said Atanesyan.
He confirmed that he would continue to defend Ashotyan’s right to receive necessary medical services.
Armen Ashotyan was arrested on June 16, 2023. On September 10, 2024, the court altered his preventive measure, but detention conditions remained unchanged after motions were denied. On June 9, the court extended his house arrest until August 11. Ashotyan and former rector of Yerevan State Medical University Mikael Narimanyan are accused of embezzling around $100,000 in university property, involving the purchase of cottages at inflated prices at the Tsovasar hotel complex when Ashotyan chaired the university’s board of trustees.
