MP slams new charges against Serzh Sargsyan

MP Tigran Abrahamyan of the opposition Pativ Unem faction accused Armenia's authorities of consistently prosecuting their political rivals and cracking down on people's freedoms.

According to him, the legal mechanisms have been employed not only for tactical purposes, such as boosting approval ratings and influencing local elections, but also for strategic objectives, particularly the consolidation of power.

“The new charges against Armenia’s third President Serzh Sargsyan come after the failure of the high-profile 'diesel case' and the fiasco surrounding the $42 million electronic warfare (EW) system, which authorities ultimately had to admit was ineffective,” Abrahamyan wrote on Facebook on Thursday.

He also pointed to the unlawful dismissal of the judge who had acquitted Sargsyan.

“The new charges are aimed at concealing the failure of official propaganda and maintaining political pressure, especially in light of the government’s historically low approval ratings and the upcoming crucial elections,” he stated.

“Recognizing that their previous tactics have lost effectiveness, the authorities have intensified their efforts by initiating a process of stripping Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Executive Body member Taron Margaryan of his parliamentary immunity and extending the house arrest of RPA Deputy Chairman Armen Ashotyan,” Abrahamyan added.