Former Armenian Defence Minister David Tonoyan (in office from 2018-2020) denies the charges against him and will not accept them under any circumstances because he is accused of a crime he did not commit, according to a statement from Tonoyan's group of lawyers.

"After leaving the post of Armenian Defence Minister, Tonoyan refused to comment, taking into account state secrets, security interests of the Republic of Armenia and interstate relations. Mr. Tonoyan still considers these interests above his personal interests and we do not intend to publicize it in defence," the statement said.

"He will fight for justice, his innocence and the restoration of his good name," the statement added.

David Tonoyan was detained on September 20, 2021.

The court remanded him in detention for two months at the request of the Armenian National Security Service.

On the same day, David Galstyan, the CEO of a company that supplies weapons and ammunition to the Armenian Armed Forces, was arrested in connection with the same criminal investigation. According to early investigations, both are accused of embezzling huge sums of money (about $ 4.7 million).

Tonoyan and Galstyan were arrested as part of a criminal investigation into abuse of office and fraud.

On October 2, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces Stepan Galstyan was arrested.