Armenian Court Drops Treason Charges Against MFA Employee Accused of Spying for Azerbaijan

Ashkhen Aleksanyan, an employee of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs who had been accused of state treason and was reported to have had ties with an Azerbaijani, has been acquitted by a Yerevan court. The decision was announced by her lawyer, Abgar Poghosyan, in a post on his Facebook page.

The case, which began in the summer of 2025, drew wide public attention due to serious allegations of espionage and conflicting reports in the media about the identity and role of the suspect.

According to Poghosyan, the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction of First Instance, presided over by Judge Ani Danielyan, found Aleksanyan not guilty of the charge of state treason under Article 418 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The charge carries a punishment of 15 to 20 years in prison or life imprisonment.

“The Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction of First Instance (presided over by ANI DANIELYAN) issued a verdict in the case of MFA employee Ashkhen Aleksanyan, according to which Aleksanyan was ACQUITTED of the charge under Article 418 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (punishable by 15–20 years or life imprisonment), that is, state treason,” the lawyer wrote.

At the same time, the court determined that Aleksanyan’s actions fall under a different and less serious article. According to the defense, the court found that her actions fall under Part 1 of Article 441 of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of up to four years in prison.

“Although the defense will also appeal the verdict to the Criminal Court of Appeal, we nevertheless would like to express special gratitude to the Court for an impartial, objective, and fair examination,” the lawyer wrote.

The case first became public on August 29, 2025, when Armenian media outlets began reporting on the detention of a Foreign Ministry employee on suspicion of espionage in favor of Azerbaijan. The reports were based on anonymous sources and often differed in details.

The newspaper Hraparak reported that the arrest had taken place about two months earlier and had been kept secret by the authorities. The same outlet claimed that Aleksanyan had served as Armenia’s consul in Austria and was detained at Zvartnots Airport. According to one version, she was detained upon arrival in Armenia, while other reports suggested she was stopped while preparing to depart for Vienna.

Hraparak also reported that documents were found on the young woman and that she was suspected of spying for Azerbaijan. It further stated that following her arrest, the National Security Service carried out a full-day search at the Foreign Ministry, examining computers and reviewing official materials.

Other media outlets published additional claims. Factor.am, citing its sources, reported that Aleksanyan had access to important information and worked in key departments of the ministry. It also stated that she was allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with an Azerbaijani and had passed information to him. According to the same reports, she allegedly admitted during questioning that she had received money and had not acted alone.

Pastinfo, also citing sources, reported that Aleksanyan was detained while attempting to leave for Vienna and that highly important documents were found in her possession.

Unconfirmed reports circulating on social media claimed that she had been blackmailed with intimate footage.

Later on the same day, Armenia’s Investigative Committee officially confirmed that a criminal case had been launched against an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Committee stated that the proceedings had been initiated on June 20 and included charges of espionage and state treason. It also confirmed that the individual had been arrested.

At the same time, the authorities did not disclose the name of the suspect and rejected several details reported in the media. The Investigative Committee stated that there was no evidence that other ministry employees were involved in the case. It also denied claims that the detainee was a high-ranking official or had served as a consul.

If found guilty under the original charges, the suspect could have faced life imprisonment.

The court’s decision to acquit Aleksanyan of state treason represents a major shift from the initial accusations that surrounded the case. However, the legal process is not yet fully completed, as the defense has stated it will appeal the ruling regarding the remaining charge.

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