Appeals court sends high treason case back for new examination after prosecutor’s appeal

An Armenian appeals court has upheld a prosecutor’s appeal against a lower court ruling that reclassified a suspect’s conduct from high treason to abuse of official powers, sending the criminal case back to a first-instance court for a new examination.

The court made the decision on September 22, according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The suspect had originally been charged under Article 418, Part 1 (treason) of Armenia’s Criminal Code with providing, in exchange for money, information threatening Armenia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and external security to a representative of a foreign intelligence agency.

However, in its April 20, 2026 verdict, the Yerevan Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction reclassified the suspect’s conduct under Article 441, Part 1 of the Criminal Code. The provision concerns an official using their powers or influence arising from their position to the detriment of state or official interests, failing to perform or improperly performing their official duties, or carrying out an act outside or beyond the scope of their powers, where this causes significant harm to the rights, freedoms or legitimate interests of a person or organization, or to the legitimate interests of society or the state.

The first-instance court sentenced the suspect to two years in prison.

The prosecutor appealed the judgment.

The Court of Appeal upheld the prosecutor’s appeal on September 22 and sent the criminal case back to the first-instance court for a new examination.