ArmInfo.Armenia's Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan responded to the detention of nine supporters of the "Sacred Struggle" protest movement only on the third day. Thus, in a statement received by ArmInfo, the Ombudsman's office noted that on October 31, information was published in the media and social networks about the detention of 9 citizens on suspicion of possessing weapons and ammunition.
At the same time, the office of the Human Rights Defender assured that immediately, on the instructions of Manasyan, the office employees began the relevant procedures, including sending a request to the Prosecutor General's Office asking for clarification on the fact of the detention of citizens.
"Today, November 1, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia received information that all detainees have been released. In this regard, the Ombudsman reaffirms her position that any case of deprivation of a person's liberty must comply with the established standards of legality, and any concerns related to this issue must be properly discussed," the Armenian Ombudsman noted.
At this moment a protest action is taking place in front of the Ombudsman's office demanding an end to the lawlessness. Citizens who gathered in front of the office expressed dissatisfaction with Manasyan's activities, who, according to them, turns a blind eye to the persecution of citizens with opposition political views.
On October 31, Gegham Manukyan, a member of the Armenian parliament from the opposition Hayastan faction, published a list of citizens detained by law enforcement officers on suspicion of illegal possession of weapons and ammunition. These include, in particular, Hayk Nikoghosyan, Aghvan Arshakyan, Vigen Azatyan, Ara Mkrtchyan, Nikolay Kocharyan, Mushegh Navasardan, Hovhannes Avetisyan, Mikael Ohanyan and Artem Kharatyan.
According to Manukyan, they were all illegally arrested according to the same scenario. "They stop cars and report operational information about the storage of illegal weapons. The search of the car drags on for a whole day; then, if the information is refuted, they either release them, or the investigators, using the right to arrest for 72 hours, continue to detain the oppositionists unnecessarily. This speaks to the government's fears. These fears will intensify. And the oppositionists will not be broken by such fake and illegal steps," Manukyan noted.
