Opposition MP slams silence over political repression in Armenia

Armenian opposition lawmaker Hayk Mamijanyan opened his address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) with an extended silence on Friday, calling attention to the international community’s failure to respond to political repression in Armenia .

When Mamijanyan’s name was announced by the session chair, the head of the Pativ Unem faction stood at the podium but did not speak for a while, instead slowly turning his wedding ring.

“It is awkward to hear silence when you are waiting for someone to speak, isn’t it?” Mamijanyan said. “Now, you feel the same way we Armenians do about the reaction of the international community about the things happening in my country.”

In his speech, Mamijanyan accused Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s government of targeting the Armenian Apostolic Church, suppressing political opposition and curbing press freedom. He cited the arrest of four archbishops held for more than six months, the detention of businessman and philanthropist Samvel Karapetyan who publicly supported the church, and the arrest of the opposition’s joint candidate for prime minister following the launch of impeachment proceedings.

“Reporters and whole media agencies get targeted by government officials. Silence,” he said.

“Bloggers get arrested. One of them goes on hunger strike, his health is so bad that yesterday he was brought to the court in a wheelchair. Silence.

Members of parliament, former presidents, oppositional leaders are arrested or banned from traveling. Silence.”

Turning to regional security, Mamijanyan said Armenia is “occupied politically” by Pashinyan and “physically” by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He claimed more than 50 people in Armenia were imprisoned for their political views and that, according to official figures, 19 Armenians were currently jailed in Azerbaijan “just because they are Armenians.”

“I have decided for myself: I am not going to stay silent,” Mamijanyan told the assembly. “Now it’s your choice, ladies and gentlemen.”