Armenian opposition figure vows to continue struggle after court eases detention

Armenian opposition figure and former Masis Mayor Davit Hambardzumyan said on Thursday that neither detention nor pressure would deter his political campaign, after a court replaced his pre-trial detention with house arrest.

“Our country is going through difficult times and facing many challenges,” Hambardzumyan said in a statement, thanking supporters and pledging to continue what he described as a joint struggle. “No arrest, no repression and no Nikol can divert us from our course,” he said, referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Hambardzumyan, who has been named a joint opposition candidate for prime minister, said the support of his backers had enabled him to speak publicly again and vowed further “small and large victories.”

Hambardzumyan was moved to house arrest on January 19 pending a verdict on his appeal against a six-year prison sentence given to him in October, after he was found guilty of assaulting some participants of antigovernment rallies in 2018. He denied the charges as politically motivated.