ArmInfo.The International Union of Centrist Democrats (CDI) called on the Armenian authorities to immediately release the political prisoner, former Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party (RPA) Armen Ashotyan. This is stated in a statement by Lilit Beglaryan, chairman of the external relations committee of the Union of Centrist Democrats (UCD).
According to Beglaryan, on the eve of the court hearing of the anti-corruption court to extend or cancel Ashotyan's detention, the SDC issued a statement in which it expressed serious concern about political persecution in Armenia.
The statement said that the International Union of Centrist Democrats (CDI) condemns the politically motivated persecution of opposition figures by the Armenian authorities. The organization demands the immediate release of Armen Ashotyan, a political prisoner against whom, according to CDI, criminal charges have been fabricated. CDI also calls for full independence of the judiciary and for a fair, transparent and independent trial of Ashotyan and other Armenian opposition leaders.
On June 15, 2023, Deputy Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia Armen Ashotyan was arrested for two months. A day earlier, he was detained as part of criminal proceedings regarding alleged abuses committed at the Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi. Ashotyan himself does not admit guilt, and considers what is happening to be open and cynical political persecution.
