Detentions and Political Tights in Armenia: A Look at Recent Legal And Security Moves
Armenian outlet 168.am reported, with cited sources, that the National Security Service has detained Major General Grigory Khachaturov, the son of former CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov. The report notes that Khachaturov, once a high-ranking commander of the Third Army Corps, was taken into custody by the National Security Service investigation department to support a request for his arrest in connection with ongoing proceedings. The article links this detention to the case surrounding former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. The National Security Service has not issued an official public statement about the detention, leaving details to be confirmed through the investigative process.
Earlier, Armenia’s parliament approved a prosecutors motion to initiate criminal proceedings against Seyran Ohanyan. He faces accusations of large-scale embezzlement and actions that favored personal interests over his official duties. The charges specifically reference the privatization of property previously owned by the Armenian military department. This development underscores ongoing inquiries into the handling of defense assets and the governance of state resources during Ohanyan’s tenure as defense minister.
Ohanyan, a former head of the Ministry of Defense and current leader of the opposition parliamentary group Armenia, has publicly defended the strategy behind the country’s participation in Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) exercises. He has argued that such exercises are essential for building troop readiness, improving the coordination between commanders and headquarters, and facilitating the exchange of military practices among CSTO member states. According to Ohanyan, skipping these drills would hamper the training and preparedness needed to respond to potential conflicts. This perspective highlights a broader debate on Armenia’s security posture, alliance commitments, and the role of international exercises in modern defense planning. (Source attribution: Armenian edition 168.am)