Judge orders rearrest of oppositionist Avetik Chalabyan

An Armenian court on Wednesday ordered the rearrest of opposition activist Avetik Chalabyan.

Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction decided to place him under arrest again for three more months.

The prosecutor had called for bail as a measure of restraint against Chalabyan, asking the court to determine its amount.

Chalabyan, a co-founder of the Arar Foundation and a member of the Consolidation Movement, was first arrested on 14 May for allegedly trying to pay students of the Armenian National Agrarian University to participate in anti-government protests in Yerevan. He was released from custody after his arrest period expired on July 27.

Chalabyan dismisses the charges as politically motivated. He has accused Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of “persecuting” him and his family members.