"Fact" daily writes:
In the domestic political life and information platforms of Armenia, a great wave of protest and dissatisfaction has been ignited with a new momentum in recent days. The "legal" processes carried out against the key figures of the opposition field, which are characterized by wide circles of the public as open political persecutions, once again brought to the surface the crisis of justice prevailing in the country.
Avetik Chalabyan, coordinator of "HayaVote" association, public politician, has again been targeted by the authorities, whose fact of being in prison has become one of the important topics of domestic and international discussions.
Public figures, politicians, human rights defenders and international experts unanimously state that what is happening is not a legal process, but a pre-planned political reprisal aimed at silencing active opposition voices and instilling an atmosphere of fear among the public. Statements and posts spread on social networks and media testify to one thing: Chalabyan's unbreakable character and principle concern those who are used to working only in the shadows.
Reflecting on the steps taken on international platforms and the evaluations given, American-Canadian international lawyer, founder and executive manager of "Amsterdam & Partners" company Robert Amsterdam, answering about the arrest of opposition figures after the elections, including Avetik Chalabyan, told "24news. am" said: "It would be naive to consider what is happening a mere coincidence.
This is not a series of separate legal processes, but a pre-planned political purge, which is directly related to the activity and influence of these figures in the elections. When key figures of the opposition are targeted during the election campaign or immediately after the elections, there should be a clear signal to the international community. the government does not have enough political legitimacy to compete with an open debate, so it switches to forceful neutralization tactics.
The rule of law implies a level playing field, while in Armenia today, the law enforcement system serves as the "political whip" of the executive to silence opposition voices and instill an atmosphere of fear among the public. This is characteristic of authoritarian systems, not democratic states." Larisa Alaverdyan, the executive director of the NGO "Against Legal Arbitrariness" and the first defender of human rights of RA, states about the systemic nature of the situation and the need to protect rights in international courts.
Referring to the scandalous case of the arrest of opposition figures, including "HayaVote" coordinator Avetik Chalabyan, he, answering the question of "Azatutyun" radio station, emphasized. "In order to effectively counter the persecutions, it is important to summarize all the data, otherwise the repressions will become more intense." The human rights defender also added. "It is still not accepted in Armenian society to go to court, but all those citizens whose rights are violated should file a mass lawsuit by applying to local courts, and also consistently fight in international courts.
There are many organizations that can be turned to, but we don't use even 10 percent of the available tools." The reactions in the public and political field of Inner Armenia are also quite clear. Member of the National Assembly Tigran Abrahamyan writes that Avetik Chalabyan is also one of the regular targets of the regime, who was arrested for the first time back in 2022, during the days of the resistance movement, and now he is in prison again.
According to the deputy's observation, any person related to the subject of Artsakh and demanding changes in the country immediately appears in the government's field of view, and when all that is combined with the willingness and will to fight, prison life is already ready to wait for him. In his turn, public figure Areg Savgulyan says that he and his colleagues discussed the public's indifference and criminal silence towards political prisoners, and in that context referred to such people, about whom there has been a mysterious silence for a long time. He emphasizes that these persons were not guided by narrow careerist ambitions, they are socially secure and successful in life, but they are imprisoned for speaking and acting against the hybrid regime of Nikolism, and the coordinator of "HayaVote" Avetik Chalabyan is one of the above-mentioned persons. The author notes that although Avetik Chalabyan advised them to be more restrained and cautious in their thoughts, he himself ran to the forefront, sometimes like young people full of political romanticism and blood, and accepted the general attack on him as the first among equals.
Savgulyan emphasizes that they do not talk about Avetik Chalabyan every day and do not capitalize on his status as a political prisoner in a political sense, because their problem is not individuals, but the vision of a lasting Armenian state, and Avetik Chalabyan is one of the first warriors of that idea, mind and spirit, who today carries the yoke of selective justice on his shoulders. Sayida Poghosyan also states in her publication, that freedom cannot be optional, and when a person is deprived of freedom in the context of his political or public activity, the issue is no longer just about one person, but turns into an issue of justice, the rule of law and the rights of every citizen. He notes that Avetik Chalabyan's lack of freedom reminds everyone that silence can never be a defender of justice, and regardless of political views, the public is obliged to demand fair, transparent and law-based processes, because today it is not only about Avetik Chalabyan, but also about the state, law and dignity, which is why he demands justice and freedom for Avetik Chalabyan.
Economist Hrayr Kamendatyan, in his turn, refers to the unbreakable will and faith of Avetik Chalabyan, stressing that today, when justice is often turned into a tool, and telling the truth becomes a "crime", his friend is in prison on fabricated and groundless charges. He records that the walls cannot imprison the spirit that is free in its values, and that Avetik Chalabyan is one of those exceptional people whose political ambitions have never overshadowed the spiritual and national identity.
Kamendatyan adds that he is a truly faithful, humble, but unwavering child of the Armenian Apostolic Church, who has always been a reliable defender of the Christian faith and centuries-old values with his life. The economist expresses his belief that this test is another proof that his type and principles scare those operating in the shadows, and addressing his friend, he notes that his dignified attitude in the prison cell inspires everyone, they are on his side and believe in the speedy victory of truth and justice.
