12 oppositionists prosecuted after protests in Yerevan

Leaders of four parties and eight other oppositionists are suspected of disclosing state secrets and organizing a rally while martial law is in force, the National Security Service of Armenia reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the agreement between Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on the cessation of the hostilities in Nagorno-Karabakh, which entered into force on November 10, provoked riots and protests in Yerevan. On November 11, the police detained 129 activists, including Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the "Prosperous Armenia" Party, and other opposition leaders.

Gagik Tsarukyan, Gegam Manukyan, a member of the ARF "Dashnaktsutyun", Eduard Sharmazanov and David Ambartsumyan, members of the Republican Party, and Ara Saakyan, the former deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament, were detained in connection with a criminal case under the article on organizing mass riots, the Special Investigating Service of Armenia reports today.

Two more persons – Vaagn Chakhalyan and Grachya Gukasyan – suspected of organizing the riots, were left at large and signed recognizance not to leave, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reported.

Ishkhan Sagatelyan, a member of the "Dashnaktsutyun", Garnik Isagulyan, the leader of the "National Security" Party, and Arthur Gazinyan, the leader of the "United Armenia" Party, were detained in connection with a criminal case and violation of the rules for handling documents or computer information containing state secrets. Political analyst Suren Surenyants and Arthur Vanetsyan, the leader of the "Fatherland" Party, are being charged under the both above articles.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 12, 2020 at 12:03 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.