Tatoyan calls Osipyan case political retaliation

PanARMENIAN.Net - The detention and criminal prosecution of Artsakh native Arthur Osipyan constitute an act of open retaliation, Wings of Unity party leader Arman Tatoyan said.

In a statement, Tatoyan argued that Osipyan is being punished for expressing views that the authorities dislike.

“A person expresses an opinion that is not welcomed by the authorities, and the response is that prison becomes the best place for him to ‘come to his senses,’” he said.

Tatoyan described the case as a warning to society about what happens when the state begins treating citizens as adversaries.

“This case is a signal to the entire public about what it means when the authorities view citizens as enemies and move toward authoritarian rule. We must not allow the election campaign to overshadow this alarming case. A person should not be forgotten behind sensational headlines and political distractions.

That is why we say justice is coming, so that people and their problems are not ignored and their voices are not silenced. We know how to ensure democracy,” the statement said.

Tatoyan also announced that he would visit Gegham Ohanyan, who is staging a sit-in in support of Osipyan, to express solidarity and support.

Activist Gegham Ohanyan has been holding a sit-in for a second consecutive day outside the presidential residence in support of Arthur Osipyan, who is on a hunger strike and was arrested after questioning Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a campaign event.

According to Ohanyan, participants in the protest appealed to the president on the first day of the action, asking him to help secure a change in Osipyan’s pretrial measure.

Osipyan approached Pashinyan during an election campaign event in Yerevan’s Arabkir district and asked questions concerning Armenia’s security and demands put forward by Azerbaijan, including discussions about the possible return of Azerbaijani refugees.

Pashinyan responded sharply, accusing him of promoting Azerbaijani narratives. The exchange escalated, and the prime minister urged him to leave.

Hours later, Osipyan was detained. A court subsequently ordered his pretrial detention for two months. He has been charged under Articles 330, 297 and 211 of Armenia’s Criminal Code.