Justice minister claims no political prisoners in Armenia

Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan on Wednesday reiterated that Armenia has no political prisoners, citing recent reports from European institutions that made no reference to such cases.

Speaking at a press conference, Galyan said opposition figures were disappointed by the findings but argued the absence of references indicates political prisoners may not exist in the country.

She stressed that individuals cannot hide behind political status or views to justify alleged crimes, adding that criminal cases must be judged by courts, not political interpretations. “Engaging in politics does not mean every act should be given a political context,” she said.

Galyan urged patience until court rulings are issued and emphasized that government officials should not interfere in or evaluate the work of courts and law enforcement. She noted again that the Council of Europe reports contained “not a single word” about political prisoners.