Armenian MP urges chief prosecutor to release female activist immediately

Independent MP Taguhi Tovmasyan has accused Armenian Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan of applying justice selectively, following the different treatment of two high-profile female detainees.

Tovmasyan, a former chair of the parliament’s human rights committee, formally appealed to Vardapetyan on Thursday, demanding she urgently change the pre-trial measure for opposition activist Lidya Mantashyan, whom the MP describes as the only female political prisoner.

In her appeal, Tovmasyan referred to a precedent set in February 2024, when the chief prosecutor initiated a change to the detention of Ani Gevorgyan, the sister-in-law of National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan. At the time, the prosecution justified the move by stating the suspects had given testimony, confrontations had been held and the risk of obstructing the investigation was gone.

Tovmasyan argued that the same logic should apply to Mantashyan, as the preliminary investigation into her case is complete, the case is now in court and the risks of interference are eliminated.

"Has justice become a mechanism to serve the select few? Does the law only work against the opposition? Has disproportion become systemic?" Tovmasyan asked.

The MP called on Vardapetyan to release Mantashyan from detention and apply an alternative measure, stating there is no longer any justification to keep the young woman in jail.

“Detention cannot be used as a punishment and a tool of political retribution,” she added.