Appeal Court  overturns acquittal of "Tavush for the Homeland"  activists

ArmInfo.Armenia's Criminal Court of Appeals has overturned the acquittal of three prominent members of the "Tavush for the Homeland" movement: Gagik  Hambardzumyan, Zhora Avetisyan, and Mesrop Yesayan.

As the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office recalled on its Facebook  page, the activists were originally cleared of charges on May 27,  2025, by a Yerevan court of general jurisdiction. However, the  Prosecutor General's Office appealed the ruling, leading to the  Appeals Court's decision on January 22, 2026. "In this regard, the  Prosecutor General's Office filed an appeal against the court's  decision, which was upheld by the Criminal Court of Appeals on  January 22, 2025, and the criminal case was transferred to the court  of first instance for a new investigation," the Prosecutor General's  Office recalled.

Henrikh Danielyan, head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA)  youth wing, has  characterized the move as a continuation of systemic  political persecution. "A case closed in 2025 against RPA member  Zhora Avetisyan, who was sentenced to 1.5 months, has been reopened.   The wave of political persecution is not only failing to subside but  is gaining strength every day. New names are being added to the list  of those accused under fabricated cases," Danielyan wrote. 

Recall, on May 31, 2025, a protest organized by the "Tavush for the  Homeland" movement took place outside the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs. During the event, clashes erupted between activists and law  enforcement, leading to the deployment of additional forces,  including special forces. Approximately 16 people were detained as a  result of these events.