Opposition activists staged a protest near the National Assembly of Armenia during the plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, demanding justice for political detainees in Armenia and Armenian captives held in Baku. The demonstrators aimed to raise their concerns directly to visiting European parliamentarians.
The protest was initiated by the youth and student wings of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), joined by members of other political and civic groups. Protesters emphasized that silence over domestic developments in Armenia comes at a high cost: the growing number of political prisoners, according to Sputnik Armenia.
“Anyone who opposes Nikol Pashinyan’s political course or deems his actions detrimental to the nation ends up in prison,” said Henrik Danielyan, head of the RPA youth organization, speaking to reporters.
Danielyan acknowledged that while some European officials had openly criticized the Armenian authorities the previous day, what is needed is not isolated statements but institutional political assessments.
“In Armenia, political figures are tortured, freedom of speech is suppressed, and the courts carry out politically driven decisions,” he added.
Protesters displayed photos of detained participants of the Sacred Struggle movement, along with clergy from the Aragatsotn and Shirak dioceses.
Following the session, members of the Euronest delegation exited the parliament building, prompting MP Anna Mkrtchyan of the I Have Honor faction to address them in English.
“I have a simple question. Do double standards matter more to you than freedom of speech? Do narrow political interests outweigh values and rights?” she asked.
Mkrtchyan stated that, as a politically active figure for the past seven years, she had witnessed hundreds of persecutions solely for criticizing Pashinyan and his government.
“And you have done nothing. You have chosen Pashinyan’s regime over human rights and values. We share European democratic ideals but not your double standards and political bias,” Mkrtchyan told the European lawmakers.
She urged the EU parliamentarians to finally listen and respond.
MP Garnik Danielyan from the Hayastan faction joined her appeal, calling for clear assessments and an end to the authorities' current approach.
The 12th plenary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, part of the Eastern Partnership, is being held in Yerevan from October 28 to 30.
