YEREVAN — Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court has extended the detention of Gagik Khachatryan, the country's former finance minister and former chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), for an additional two months, sparking intense debate over his medical condition.

Khachatryan was originally placed in a penitentiary institution on September 2, 2026, following a ruling by Judge Aram Grigoryan. His arrest came after the Investigative Committee conducted extensive raids on September 1 at the residences of Khachatryan and his son, alongside the offices of roughly twenty-one affiliated companies. The multi-agency operation was part of an ongoing criminal investigation into allegations of especially large-scale bribery and money laundering.

Speaking to reporters following the extension, defense attorney Yerem Sargsyan raised serious alarms regarding his client's deteriorating health. Sargsyan stated that Khachatryan has been completely bedridden due to severe spinal issues since his initial detention nearly two months ago. The defense claims Khachatryan is already developing pressure sores and faces a high risk of contracting pneumonia.

According to Sargsyan, multiple appeals to the Penitentiary Medicine Center state organization to transfer Khachatryan to an inpatient medical facility have been repeatedly denied. The severity of Khachatryan's condition forced an adjournment during the recent extension hearing when the former minister suffered debilitating pain, requiring the administration of emergency painkillers.

Khachatryan, who served as Armenia’s Finance Minister from April 2014 to September 2016, has faced long-standing international scrutiny. In July 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice finalized a settlement to forfeit a US$60+ million Los Angeles mega-mansion belonging to his family, which U.S. prosecutors argued was purchased using a $20 million bribe from an Armenian businessman.

The defense is expected to continue challenging the detention on humanitarian and medical grounds as the state's large-scale corruption investigation proceeds.