Our Way movement condemns Masis mayor arrest 

ArmInfo.  The "Po-Nashemu" movement condemned the arrest of Masis Mayor and Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) prime minister candidate David Hambardzumyan, calling it illegal.

As noted in a statement distributed on the movement's Facebook page,  Hambardzumyan's arrest marks the second time in the past two weeks  that a popularly elected opposition community leader has been  eliminated through criminal means. The movement expressed its belief  that this is due to current political developments and the upcoming  electoral process. "The arrests of the mayors of Gyumri and Masis,  and the ongoing political persecution of opponents, recently testify  to a profound crisis of democratic values and human rights in  Armenia, as well as the vicious practice of using electoral justice  and the judicial system to serve the interests of the ruling regime.   Law enforcement agencies in Armenia must focus on their core  functions, and soon, that's exactly what they will do," the  "Po-Nashemu" movement concluded.

As a reminder, Masis Mayor David Hambardzumyan was arrested at  Zvartnots Airport on October 28 upon returning from Russia. A court  had previously sentenced Masis Mayor David Hambardzumyan to six years  and three months in prison. It's noteworthy that every effort was  made to prevent the amnesty from being applied and the sentence from  being amended. Hambardzumyan is accused of "organizing and  participating in mass unrest." The incident occurred in 2018, as part  of a series of well-known events. Then, Ambartsumyan was released on  bail of 5 million drams and on bail not to leave.