Armenia s human rights defender responds to detention of nine  opposition members 

ArmInfo.Armenia's Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan responded to the detention of nine  supporters of the "Sacred Struggle" protest movement only on the third day. Thus, in a statement received by ArmInfo, the Ombudsman's office noted that on October 31, information was published in the  media and social networks about the detention of 9 citizens on suspicion of possessing weapons and ammunition. 

At the same time, the office of the Human Rights Defender assured  that immediately, on the instructions of Manasyan, the office  employees began the relevant procedures, including sending a request  to the Prosecutor General's Office asking for clarification on the  fact of the detention of citizens. 

"Today, November 1, the Office of the Human Rights Defender of  Armenia received information that all detainees have been released.  In this regard, the Ombudsman reaffirms her position that any case of  deprivation of a person's liberty must comply with the established  standards of legality, and any concerns related to this issue must be  properly discussed," the Armenian Ombudsman noted.

At this moment a protest action is taking place in front of the  Ombudsman's office demanding an end to the lawlessness. Citizens who  gathered in front of the office expressed dissatisfaction with  Manasyan's activities, who, according to them, turns a blind eye to  the persecution of citizens with opposition political views.

On October 31, Gegham Manukyan, a member of the Armenian parliament  from the opposition Hayastan faction, published a list of citizens  detained by law enforcement officers on suspicion of illegal  possession of weapons and ammunition. These include, in particular,  Hayk Nikoghosyan, Aghvan Arshakyan, Vigen Azatyan, Ara Mkrtchyan,  Nikolay Kocharyan, Mushegh Navasardan, Hovhannes Avetisyan, Mikael  Ohanyan and Artem Kharatyan.

According to Manukyan, they were all illegally arrested according to  the same scenario. "They stop cars and report operational information  about the storage of illegal weapons. The search of the car drags on  for a whole day; then, if the information is refuted, they either  release them, or the investigators, using the right to arrest for 72  hours, continue to detain the oppositionists unnecessarily. This  speaks to the government's fears. These fears will intensify. And the  oppositionists will not be broken by such fake and illegal steps,"  Manukyan noted.