During a parliamentary hearing, Elinar Vardanyan, a lawmaker from the opposition Hayastan faction, stated that more than 60 individuals in Armenia have faced politically motivated criminal prosecution, with about 40 still in detention. The hearing addressed a draft declaration on political prisoners and the restoration of their violated rights.
Vardanyan claimed that Armenia has become “a tool for political pressure and retribution,” as reported by Sputnik Armenia.
“The authorities aim to create an atmosphere of fear and maintain power at any cost, even at the expense of dismantling the foundations of a legal state. There are no functioning mechanisms for legal protection, and laws proclaiming civil and political rights have become empty declarations,” she said.
She pointed out that the imprisoned include members of the Armenian Apostolic clergy, opposition local leaders, and former officials from Artsakh. She emphasized that all of them meet the Council of Europe’s 2012 criteria for being recognized as political prisoners.
Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, though invited, did not attend the hearing.
On November 20, opposition parties and citizens held a protest outside the Prosecutor General’s Office, demanding the release of political prisoners. During the rally, Artsvik Minasyan, secretary of the Hayastan faction, announced that a draft declaration on political prisoners and their rights has been submitted jointly with the I Have Honor faction. The hearings were scheduled for November 26 and international organizations were invited to observe. The Prosecutor General also received an invitation.
