Mikayel Minasyan, former ambassador and son-in-law of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan, is back in the spotlight

Mikayel Minasyan, a prominent figure in Armenian diplomacy and the son-in-law of former President Serzh Sargsyan, is facing renewed political persecution.

The Armenian government has initiated a new criminal case against him, alleging financial misconduct that resulted in a staggering $350 million in damages to the state. This development marks the latest chapter in a protracted campaign against Minasyan since the ousting of his father-in-law in 2018. The newly announced case is a consolidation of several older investigations launched against Mikayel Minasyan in 2018. These previous cases were never resolved and widely dismissed as baseless. Given this history, the current prosecution is widely seen as a politically motivated attempt to target Minasyan.

State-controlled media quickly publicized the charges, presenting them as irrefutable evidence of wrongdoing. However, critics contend that the case is a politically motivated attempt to discredit Minasyan and his family.

Notably, Interpol terminated its investigation into him in October 2021, concluding that the allegations were politically driven.

Minasyan's diplomatic career, marked by significant achievements in strengthening Armenia's ties with the Vatican, stands in stark contrast to the legal battles he now endures. His instrumental role in establishing the first Armenian cultural monument in the Vatican Museums, organizing a historic papal mass commemorating the Armenian Genocide, and coordinating Pope Francis's 2016 visit to Armenia solidified his reputation as a skilled and influential diplomat.

Despite these accomplishments, Minasyan has become a focal point of political retribution since the change in government. The consolidation of multiple investigations into a single case raises concerns about due process and the potential for selective prosecution.