A participant in a protest in Yerevan has been taken into custody

Arsen Ghukasyan was arrested on charges of hooliganism during a protest by relatives of soldiers missing in action during the Karabakh war. The second detainee, Apijan Sargsyan, was released on bail.

As reported by the " Caucasian Knot ," on October 6, security forces in Yerevan detained Arsen Ghukasyan and Abidjan (also referred to in the media as Abidjan) Sargsyan, who were participating in a rally for relatives of soldiers missing in action during the 44-day war in Karabakh. Both are charged with hooliganism and obstructing the work of an official. The case was opened following a protest outside the Ministry of Defense building, where protesters blocked the entrance to the ministry, preventing anyone from entering or leaving.

Arsen Ghukasyan, the uncle of missing Sarkis Ghukasyan, has been remanded in custody for a month, according to lawyer Tatev Soghoyan. According to her, the decision to arrest Ghukasyan was made on October 6, News.am reported today.

Judge Masis Melkonyan rejected the defense's request for a more lenient pretrial detention measure against Ghukasyan. Apidzhan Sargsyan, detained along with Ghukasyan, was previously released on bail. According to investigators, they threw bottles at military police officers during the protest on September 29, Sputnik Armenia reported today.

Ghukasyan's lawyer, Tatev Soghoyan, stated that pretrial detention threatens the life of her client, who has suffered two heart attacks and a stroke, and has undergone three stents. According to her, Ghukasyan required emergency medical attention during the investigation on October 6. The defense presented all medical documents to the investigative body, according to the publication.

As a reminder, 217 people have been officially recognized as missing in Armenia during the 44-day war. According to the Red Cross, approximately 300 people are listed as missing in action during the 2020-2023 hostilities.

The parents of soldiers whose fates remained unclear after the war periodically  hold protests  outside the Armenian Ministry of Defense and government buildings. Furthermore, several dozen families have disputed the forensic examination that declared their relatives dead, insisting that their loved ones be listed as missing.

Translated automatically via Google translate from https://www.kavkaz-uzel.eu/articles/416102