Human rights lawyer proposes opposition-led commission to address political prisoners in Armenia

Armenian human rights lawyer Ruben Melikyan has proposed the setup of a commission to address the issue of political prisoners in the country, saying the matter should become part of opposition parties’ political agendas ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.

In an interview to Panorama.am on Tuesday, Melikyan said that the proposed body would include opposition figures and independent human rights activists. It would work in four main areas: legal analysis and reporting, international advocacy, public communication and social support for the families of politically persecuted individuals.

According to Melikyan, Armenia currently has around 30 political prisoners. He said recent developments, particularly the conviction of Archbishop Mikayel Ajapahyan, show that authorities have “lowered the threshold” for political persecution.

“The government’s claims that only people engaged in politics can be political prisoners are false,” Melikyan said. “In Archbishop Mikayel’s case, the real target is the Armenian Apostolic Church itself.”

He added that the initiative is still in its early phase but could take shape within two months before the end of the year.