Sergey Smbatyan, who was suspended in summer from the role of principal conductor of the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra following his arrest in connection to fraud allegations in Armenia, has been acquitted of all charges, his lawyer said.

"By the decision of the Prosecutor of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia dated October 27, 2023, Maestro Sergey Smbatyan was acquitted, and the criminal prosecution against him was ceased on the basis that he did not commit the guilty act", a statement from his lawyer said Thursday.

A statement from the MPO in July had said that it is suspending its working relationship with Smbatyan with immediate effect, 'without entering into the merits of the case, and without any prejudice to anything or anyone.'

Smbatyan had been appointed as Principal Conductor at the MPO on 1 January 2022.