Haykakan Jamanak journalist Hayk Gevorgyan was released from Nubarashen penitentiary earlier today. The prosecutor overseeing the criminal case decided to change the precautionary measure: Gevorgyan was released on condition that he will not leave the country.

Spokesperson for Armenia’s Prosecutor General Sona Truzyan shared the grounds for releasing the journalist with RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun). “The reason for the prosecutor’s decision was that Hayk is accused of a crime that is not of great gravity, he has no prior sentences and has a permanent place of residence,” she said. 

Hayk Gevorgyan was arrested on Feb. 3. He is charged with RA Criminal Code Article 242 Section 1 (“Breach of traffic rules and operation of means of transportation by the driver of a car or other mechanical means of transportation, which negligently caused grave or medium-gravity damage to human health”) and Article 244 (“Abandoning the site of a road accident by the driver of the means of transportation who breached the traffic rules or rules of operation of the means of transportation”). If found guilty, Gevorgyan might be imprisoned for up to 2 years.