30 political prisoners in Armenia highlight regime's authoritarian tactics, MP claims

Opposition lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan claims the existence of nearly three dozen political prisoners in Armenia reflects the authoritarian tactics used by the current leadership.

According to him, the recent court hearings on the measure of restraint against his fellow opposition MP Artur Sargsyan once again confirmed the lack of grounds for the charges against him. Abrahamyan argued that the government’s narrative is built on propaganda and distortion rather than facts.

“The existence of almost thirty political prisoners in the country speaks volumes about the authoritarian tactics of the ruling regime,” Abrahamyan told reporters on Monday, noting that many others face criminal prosecution even if they are not imprisoned.

Separately, the Pativ Unem faction MP expressed deep concern over the closure of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) office in Baku.

“It was effectively the only international organization with access to Armenian prisoners, capable of assessing their condition on the ground, including physical and psychological well-being,” he said, stressing that the Red Cross also served as a safeguard against abuses toward Armenian prisoners of war.

Abrahamyan further noted that while Azerbaijan officially confirmed the presence of 23 Armenian POWs, the actual number reached 80. He emphasized that only the ICRC had the capacity to properly address their situation.