Armenian opposition leader states criminal case against party member is politically motivated

Armenian opposition leader Artur Vanetsyan said a criminal case opened against a member of his Homeland Party was politically motivated and would ultimately collapse in court.

Vanetsyan, a former head of Armenia’s National Security Service and current chairman of the Homeland Party, told the Hraparak newspaper on Friday that the case against party political council member Khachik Galstyan lacked legal grounds.

“The case is baseless,” Vanetsyan said in the interview. “Just as in the case of Arsen Babayan, it will not have a judicial outcome.”

He was referring to a previous case against party member Arsen Babayan that was later dropped.

Vanetsyan said he could not disclose details due to the secrecy of the pre-trial investigation but insisted there was no substantive case against Galstyan. He described the proceedings as a “punitive action”.

He also referenced the detention of another party member, Aram Kocharyan, who he said was arrested on Dec. 30. According to Vanetsyan, authorities had obtained information related to the alleged offense on Nov. 16.

“If the data was obtained on November 16 and nothing changed, why were arrests not made immediately on November 17 or 18? Why specifically on December 30?” he said.

Vanetsyan alleged that the broader aim of the authorities was to exert pressure on opposition figures and their families. He said both Galstyan and Kocharyan have minor children and that the situation has been difficult for their families.

Despite the circumstances, Vanetsyan said Galstyan remained resolute. “He is encouraging everyone not to lose hope and to continue the struggle,” he said.