Former MP slams Armen Ashotyan's prosecution as politically motivated

Former lawmaker Naira Zohrabyan on Friday accused the Armenian  authorities of pursuing former Education Minister Armen Ashotyan for political reasons, arguing that the criminal cases against him have no legal merit.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse before a hearing in Ashotyan's case, Zohrabyan said both criminal proceedings against the senior Republican Party of Armenia member were politically motivated.

"You can scrutinize these cases from every angle, and they reek of politics from beginning to end," she said.

Zohrabyan also said prosecutors had summoned Ashotyan's father and sister in connection with civil forfeiture proceedings involving allegedly illicit assets.

She described the investigation as political retribution aimed at Ashotyan and his party because of their outspoken criticism of the government.

"There is about as much law in this case as there is in me being the Queen of England — that is to say, none," Zohrabyan said. "I have a better chance of becoming the Queen of England than there being any genuine legal basis for this case."

Referring to the recent detention of Aregnaz Manukyan, a former lawmaker and executive board member of the opposition Mother Armenia party, Zohrabyan said European institutions had repeatedly urged Armenia to reserve pretrial detention for exceptional cases.

"Today, pretrial detention has become routine. They're taking everyone into custody," she said.

Zohrabyan also claimed international organizations would not criticize the government because Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had been given "carte blanche" to do whatever was necessary to hold onto power.