Ex-Armenian President Robert Kocharyan will remain behind bars as he awaits trial on charges of usurping state power in March 2008.

Armenia’s Criminal Court of Appeals today ruled against a motion filed by Kocharyan’s lawyers to rescind a January 18 decision by Yerevan’s Court of General Jurisdiction lower court’s decision to prolong his pre-trial detention for another two months.

Armenia’s State Prosecutor’s Office had filed a request for the extension.

Kocharyan’s lawyers had demanded bail for their client, arguing that even though there is no justification to detain their client, in this instance, bail remains the only option left to the court to minimize the violation of Kocharyan’s rights.

On December 7,  2018, Armenia’s Court of Appeals  ruled in favor of detaining former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, charged with usurping state power during the March 1, 2008 post-election public protests.