Tigran Abrahamyan, secretary of the I Have Honor faction, stated in parliament that two recent court hearings on changing the measure of restraint once again showed that the charges against opposition MP Artur Sargsyan do not reflect reality and that government propaganda has nothing to do with the facts, Panorama.am reports.
According to him, the existence of “nearly three dozen political prisoners clearly demonstrates that the current regime has embraced authoritarian approaches.” He also noted that many citizens face criminal prosecution even if they are not behind bars.
Abrahamyan also commented on the closure of the ICRC office in Baku, calling the development “highly alarming.”
“In practice, it was the only international organization with access to visit our compatriots, assess their condition on the ground, from health to psychological state,” he said.
He stressed that the ICRC’s presence had a deterrent effect, including in preventing violence against prisoners of war.
Abrahamyan added that although Azerbaijan has officially confirmed the presence of 23 POWs, in reality, the number is closer to 80, and only the ICRC could have addressed their situation.
On July 9, opposition MP Artur Sargsyan of the Hayastan faction was arrested for two months by court decision. He faces charges under Criminal Code Article 43-419(1) (preparation for usurpation of power) and Article 43-308(1) (preparation for terrorism).
