Against the backdrop of activist Artur Osipyan’s hunger strike, RA Minister of Economy Gevorg Papoyan commented on his arrest, stressing that the criminal prosecution is related exclusively to calls for violence against the Prime Minister, and not to harsh political criticism.

In a conversation with journalists, the representative of the ruling “Civil Agreement” party refused to evaluate purely legal processes, but noted that everyone is equal before the law, and turning a blind eye to crimes is unacceptable. The minister specifically clarified the episode of the famous phrase “giving the feathers to the wind” uttered by Osipyan. According to him, the head of the government, Nikol Pashinyan, was personally interested in that issue, and the law enforcement officers confirmed that there is no crime in the given sentence. The citizen’s arrest was based exclusively on calls for public violence.

Answering the question about the permissibility of harsh rhetoric, Papoyan clearly separated sharp criticism and incitement to violence. When the journalists reminded that the representatives of the government once used expressions such as “to plaster”, “to chalk” or “to cut” to the opponents, the minister described them as political speech. He emphasized that these statements were directed against those who threaten the sovereignty and peace of the state.

At the end of the conversation, the Minister of Economy emphasized that the names and statuses of persons are not important for the law enforcement system. any threat, regardless of the target, should receive an adequate response. In addition, Papoyan expressed his opinion about the non-standard political situation prevailing in Armenia, noting that, unlike the world practice, it is often the opposition that subjects the representatives of the government to verbal violence and pressure.

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