July 3, 2026
Armen Hovasapyan writes: “The Anti-Corruption Court has just extended the detention of my friend Armen Ashotyan for another month.
It has been almost a month since Ashotyan has been imprisoned in a case whose political context is so obvious, besides, it has long ceased to be perceived as an ordinary criminal proceeding. This process, which started on June 5, actually has one goal: to isolate one of the most active and prepared opponents of the government from the political field through the law enforcement and judicial system.
I should say that Armen is one of the representatives of the RPA, who in recent years has consistently formed the most substantive criticism of the government’s foreign and domestic policy, both on the Armenian and international platforms. It is noteworthy that Ashotyan was arrested one day before the start of the elections, and during that period his political statements became even more intense. for that very purpose another mechanism was implemented (already used for about 25 months). That is why this case is not only about Armen. it is a political message to the entire opposition field, to the government and especially to the main illegitimate, the sharp speech, as we can see, is silenced by criminal cases.
The most telling aspect of this story is that the government, which once promised to put an end to selective justice, is fighting for free speech every day, and today it is presenting new evidence every day that the political order can be much stronger than the law.
Patience my friend.
Freedom to Armen and all political prisoners.”
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