Armenian opposition leader cites EPP resolution on political prisoners during EU chief's visit

Armenian opposition lawmaker Hayk Mamijanyan said on Thursday that the European People's Party (EPP) has acknowledged the existence of political prisoners in Armenia, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan.

Mamijanyan, the leader of the opposition Pativ Unem faction and a senior member of the Republican Party of Armenia, made the remarks during a protest outside the government headquarters, where von der Leyen and Pashinyan were holding talks.

"There are no democratic countries with 50 political prisoners. That was the number even before the election campaign," Mamijanyan told protesters.

He accused EU officials of praising Armenia's democratic record despite the continued detention of more than 50 political prisoners.

Mamijanyan also argued that von der Leyen, whose political affiliation is with the EPP, could not ignore the issue because the center-right European political party had adopted a resolution stating that former Education Minister Armen Ashotyan and others are political prisoners and calling for their immediate release.

"Regardless of all statements made inside this building, the EPP has officially acknowledged that there are political prisoners in Armenia," he said.