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RA Human Rights Defender launches probe into raids and detentions of  ARF members 

RA Human Rights Defender launches probe into raids and detentions of  ARF members 

ArmInfo.  Armenian Ombudsman Anahit Manasyan is closely monitoring the situation that has developed in connection with the searches that took place in the homes of members  of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation "Dashnaktsutyun" (ARF),  including the member of parliament from the opposition faction  "Armenia" Gegham Manukyan, and the detentions of ARF members,  including the son of MP Gegham Manukyan - Taron Manukyan.

As reported by the press service of the Human Rights Defender of  Armenia, the hotline of the Ombudsman's office received information  from lawyers that a group of detainees, among whom was Taron  Manukyan, do not have access to their lawyers. They are not allowed  into the building of the Investigative Committee of Yerevan. The  Ombudsman's office added that an investigation has been launched in  connection with the information received.

"Considering the above, a rapid response team has left for the  Investigative Committee on the instructions of Manasyan. This case is  under the direct control of the Ombudsman. If necessary, the office  of the Human Rights Defender will provide additional information,"  the Ombudsman's office said in a statement.

This morning, law enforcement officials in Armenia conducted searches  in the homes of members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation  "Dashnaktsutyun" (ARF), including Gegham Manukyan, a member of the  Armenian parliament from the opposition faction "Armenia". Searches  were also conducted at the home of Vahagn Matinyan, head of the ARF  Supreme Body, Arsen Martoyan, a member of the ARF Yerevan City  Committee, and at the home of Gevorg Muradyan, a member of the  Yeghvard Community Council of Elders. There are detainees.

Recently in Armenia, detentions and searches in the homes of  opposition figures, including members of the ARF "Dashnaktsutyun",  have become more frequent. It is noteworthy that these searches and  detentions began immediately after Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  returned from Turkey. And today, searches in the homes of ARF members  coincided with the day of Pashinyan's planned meeting with  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.  

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