Armenian opposition member detained

Armenian law-enforcement authorities on Saturday detained Artur Astoyan, a senior member of the opposition Country to Live party, in a move the party condemned as unlawful.

Astoyan, who leads the party’s faction in the Artik municipal council, was taken into custody and transferred to the Investigative Committee, party leader Mane Tandilyan said.

Tandilyan criticized the arrest as illegal and expressed support for her colleague. “Dear Artur, I am confident you will overcome this trial as well,” she wrote on social media.

Officials have not released details on the grounds for Astoyan’s detention.