Wednesday, April 10 2024 11:55

ArmInfo.The Centrist Democrat International has issued a statement condemning the political  persecution of opposition figure. 

The CDI is concerned that "the state-organized large-scale  persecution against prominent opposition leaders in Armenia  continues. The Armenian authorities have extended their campaign to  silence the opposition by using the judiciary to fabricate criminal  charges against their leaders, as is the case of Mr Armen Ashotyan,  the Vice-President of the Republican Party, which has been in  pre-trial detention since June 16, 2023." 

In its statement, the CDI "urges the international community to  closely monitor the developments of this alarming situation and  publicly denounce these methods of political persecution. Calls upon  the Armenian authorities for immediate, unconditional release of Mr  Ashotyan. Calls for a fair, transparent and independent judicial  process, ensuring that justice prevails in the cases of Mr Ahotyan  and so many other opposition leaders." 

On June 15, 2023, Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia  Armen Ashotyan was detained and subsequently arrested for two months.  Then these deadlines were repeatedly extended. The deputy chairman of  the RPA was arrested as part of criminal proceedings regarding  alleged abuses committed at the Yerevan State Medical University  named after Mkhitar Heratsi. Ashotyan himself does not admit guilt,  and considers what is happening to be open and cynical political  persecution.