As former minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Arzumanyan is widely known person not only in Armenia but also in wide diplomatic circles. His professional skills and  institutional knowledge were highly important for the opposition movement. He is also well known for his faithfulness to the national movement.

Repressions against Mr. Arzoumanyan has started in back in 2006 and were related to his political activities, particularely with the Civil Disobedience Movement, which was founded by him. On May 7, 2007 the authorities brought fraudulent criminal charges against Alexander Arzoumanyan, accusing him of money-laundering, according to which he has been detained.  Many members of Armenian civil society consider the actions of the authorities as political persecution and Alexander Arzoumanyan as a political prisoner. Arzumanyan was released after about six months; however, the criminal case remained pending and was reopened in March 2008, regardless the fact that during about one year no evidences of his guilt were obtained by investigating service.

During all period of pre-trial detention Mr. Arzumanyan has never been tried.

All motions of defence lawyers concerning the alteration of the restraint measure were rejected by the court without substantively grounded formal and legal reasons.