Armenian justice minister faulted for dismissing presumption of innocence

Armenia’s justice minister is facing sharp criticism from a political analyst who says he disregarded the presumption of innocence in comments made after the country’s June 7 parliamentary elections.

Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan alleged that the opposition engaged in “widespread vote buying.” But analyst Hakob Badalyan noted the minister later cited just over 250 reported cases — all based on law enforcement accounts and not yet confirmed by any court ruling.

In a social media post on Saturday, Badalyan argued that presenting unproven allegations as fact undermines a fundamental principle of justice. “There is not a single case confirmed by a court verdict, yet he freely says that vote buying was widespread,” he wrote.

The analyst warned that such statements erode constitutional and legal boundaries, reflecting either a sense of impunity or political overconfidence. “If that is the case, the consequences will be heavier over time for the ruling team and especially for individuals who display such behavior,” Badalyan added.