The court session regarding the detention of Artur Sargsyan, a member of the National Assembly from the Hayastan opposition bloc, has concluded. The judge has retreated to the deliberation room.

According to Panorama.am , Sargsyan’s attorney, Smbat Minasyan, told reporters after the hearing that the ruling would be issued within two to three hours.

During the hearing, the defense raised several issues, including why the case was assigned to the Avan court division while the Ajapnyak court was on duty.

The motion to detain Sargsyan was reviewed by Judge Artak Karapetyan—the same judge who previously ordered the two-month detention of well-known businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan.

Minasyan noted that while he had previously known the judge to be impartial and objective, he could not predict the outcome of this case.

“As a lawyer, I believe the threshold of reasonable suspicion has not been met. Artur Sargsyan made a statement, once again asserting that the case is politically motivated. From a legal standpoint, I see no credible grounds for suspicion, only concerns expressed by my client,” said Minasyan.

On July 8, as the National Assembly debated Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan’s motion to strip Sargsyan of parliamentary immunity, the MP voluntarily went to the Investigative Committee, anticipating his arrest.

The request for public criminal prosecution against Sargsyan stems from a criminal case involving the Sacred Struggle movement’s leaders and participants, alleging preparation for terrorism and unlawful seizure of power.