Civil Society Condemns ‘Illegal and Politically Motivated’ Prosecution of Artur Osipyan
Yerevan, May 20 – A coalition of civil society organizations has issued a strong statement condemning the criminal prosecution and detention of Artur Osipyan, which they describe as ‘illegal, unfounded, and politically motivated’. The statement, released yesterday, May 20, 2026, highlights concerns regarding freedom of speech and the impartiality of law enforcement agencies in Armenia.
The organizations assert that the criminal proceedings initiated against Osipyan on May 19, 2026, for hooliganism, obstructing pre-election campaigning, and publicly inciting violence, are a clear violation of Armenia’s international obligations concerning freedom of speech. They specifically reference the principles developed by the European Court of Human Rights’ case law.
Detention as a Means to Suppress Public Discourse
According to the statement, the motion to use detention as a pre-trial measure is ‘illegal, disproportionate, and reprehensible’, suggesting it is intended to restrict Osipyan’s public speech and activities, rather than being based on legal grounds. The organizations argue that Osipyan’s public actions, including his debate with Nikol Pashinyan, his engagement with topics of public importance, and his social media posts, fall entirely within the scope of protected critical speech.
Selective Justice and Lack of Impartiality
The civil society groups reiterate their concern about the selective application of justice by law enforcement agencies, including the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee. They claim these bodies act based on political expediency, exclusively in defense of the ruling political force. They contrast this with the lack of criminal legal assessment for the ruling political force and Nikol Pashinyan himself, regarding alleged hate speech, public calls for violence, and threats, including torturing individuals in custody.
This, they argue, underscores the absence of independence and impartiality in the activities of law enforcement, significantly damaging their public reputation and trustworthiness. Furthermore, such practices undermine the establishment of state institutions in line with European principles.
Demands for Immediate Action
In light of these concerns, the civil society organizations demand the following from the Prosecutor General’s Office and the Investigative Committee:
- Immediate release of Artur Osipyan from custody and termination of his criminal prosecution.
- Adherence to high standards of independence and impartiality within their scope of activities, relying exclusively on the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and Armenia’s international human rights obligations.
- Exclusion of illegal or selective criminal prosecutions, including the illegal and disproportionate use of criminal tools within the electoral process to silence critical speech against the ruling political force.
The statement is signed by a number of prominent organizations, including:
- Protection of Rights Without Borders NGO
- Journalists for Human Rights NGO
- For Equal Rights NGO
- Public Journalism Club
- MediaStep NGO
- Armenian Committee of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly
- Regional Center for Democracy and Security
- Human Rights Research Center NGO
- Yerevan Press Club
- New Culture of Justice NGO
- Community Mobilization and Support Center NGO
- Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office
- Helsinki Association IHR
The organizations emphasize the critical importance of upholding democratic principles and ensuring fair legal processes, especially in the context of public discourse and political activity.
Source: https://mamul.am/am/news/360130
