Political prisoner Armen Arzumanyan, X-Factor participant, released
He has fully served his two-year prison sentence.
Armen Arzumanyan. Screenshot from the "Belarus 1" YouTube channel
The release of businessman and musician Armen Arzumanyan has become known. According to human rights activists, he was released in early December 2025, having fully served his two-year prison sentence.
Arzumanyan was convicted of "calls for sanctions" (Part 3 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code) and "slandering Lukashenka" (Part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code).
Armen is 46 years old. He is originally from Azerbaijan, but has lived almost his entire life in Belarus and holds Belarusian citizenship. Arzumanyan owned gift shops for over 15 years, the last one being Podari Minsk.
In addition, he writes music under the pseudonym Arman Alekperov. He performed twice on "X-Factor" — first in 2018 in Ukraine, and then in 2021 in Belarus.
Armen actively helped homeless animals, saving several hundred. In his house, he set up shelters for animals for winter and summer.
Armen Arzumanyan in Hong Kong. Photo: VKontakte