ArmInfo. Gerolf Annemans, a member of the European Parliament representing the Patriots for Europe faction, has submitted a written inquiry to the European Commission demanding clarifications of Brussels' position regarding the arrest of Avetik Chalabyan, coordinator of the Hayakve civic initiative, as stated by the Hayakve political association.
According to the statement, the request concerns Chalabyan's detention on June 24, 2026, and was submitted in the context of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's recent visit to Armenia. In his address, Annemans noted that Mr. Chalabyan's 2022 prosecution had already drawn criticism from several international organizations regarding the protection of fundamental rights and the guarantees of a fair trial. The MEP inquired of the European Commission whether the issue of Chalabyan's latest arrest was discussed during Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Yerevan, and how Brussels views this case in light of Armenia's commitments to democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of fundamental freedoms within the framework of Armenia-EU relations.
In this regard, Hayakve emphasized the importance of international attention toward issues of political persecution, the rule of law, and the protection of human rights in Armenia.
Earlier, on June 24, Chalabyan's defense attorney Varazdat Harutyunyan reported that the court had ordered Chalabyan to be held in custody for two months. He is currently being detained at the Armavir penitentiary, where visits are restricted to legal counsel only.
According to data from the Investigative Committee, in May 2026, Avetik Chalabyan traveled abroad and met with officials from another state. During these meetings, through persuasion and the promise of securing a victory for a preferred political force, he allegedly induced them to use their official authority, power, and influence to obstruct the free exercise of electoral rights by citizens of the Republic of Armenia during the parliamentary elections held on June 7, 2026.
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