Citizens protest outside EU Delegation to Armenia in defense of  political prisoners

ArmInfo.   A group of citizens and public figures gathered outside the European Union  Delegation in Armenia to protest against political persecution and  demand attention to the plight of political prisoners in the country,  specifically highlighting the harsh detention conditions imposed on  "Mother Armenia" coalition member Aregnaz Manukyan.

Manukyan, who stands accused of disclosing state secrets, has been  subjected to severe isolation, with courts previously barring all  contact with the outside world—including phone calls and visits with  her minor daughter—permitting access solely to her defense attorney.

Lilit Galstyan, a member of parliament from the opposition "Armenia"  faction,  stated that the demonstration aimed to remind the EU of its  foundational human rights commitments and European human rights  conventions, as well as to shed light on Armenia's deteriorating  human rights landscape.  "In Armenia, the situation with human rights  on paper is completely different from reality. One of the  responsibilities of this office is to assess the actual human rights  realities Armenia faces, yet we witness the application of double  standards and a criminal silence regarding the situation prevailing  in the country," Galstyan said.

The MP noted that approximately 10,000 citizens involved in various  criminal proceedings in Armenia fall under PACE Resolution 1900  (adopted on October 3, 2012), which establishes formal criteria for  defining a "political prisoner."

Larisa Alaverdyan, Armenia's first Ombudsperson, also spoke to  reporters at the protest, alleging that under the coordination of EU  leadership, human rights organizations previously recognized for  their successful advocacy are being dismantled in Armenia.  "Never  before has Armenia seen such an anti-Armenian, anti-state team, and  all their efforts today are aimed at eliminating Armenia's  sovereignty," she said. The human rights activist also believes that  Western countries are currently compiling a dossier against the  Armenian authorities, intending to use it against them at an  opportune moment.

Dozens of citizens and prominent socio-political figures participated  in the demonstration, carrying banners featuring photographs of  public figures detained on politically motivated charges.