EU lawmaker raises Chalabyan case

PanARMENIAN.Net - Gerolf Annemans, a member of the European Parliament representing the Patriots for Europe group, has submitted a written priority question to the European Commission, drawing attention to issues related to democracy, the rule of law and the treatment of political opponents in Armenia, according to the Public Defense Team of Avetik Chalabyan.

The question concerns the June 24, 2026 detention of Hayakve National Civic Union coordinator Avetik Chalabyan and was raised in the context of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Armenia.

The MEP recalled that judicial proceedings against Chalabyan in 2022 had been criticized by several international organizations over concerns relating to fundamental rights and fair trial guarantees.

In this context, the European Commission was asked two questions:

• Whether Avetik Chalabyan's latest detention was discussed during Ursula von der Leyen's visit to Yerevan.
• How the European Commission assesses the case in light of Armenia's commitments on democracy, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law within the framework of European Union-Armenia relations.

The Hayakve National Civic Union said it considers it important that issues concerning alleged political persecution, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental human rights in Armenia receive appropriate international attention and assessment.

On June 24, 2026, Chalabyan's home was searched. He was detained and later placed in pretrial detention for two months.

Armenia's Investigative Committee said Chalabyan, as coordinator of the Hayakve civic union, intended to obstruct citizens' free exercise of their voting rights during the June 7, 2026 parliamentary elections. According to investigators, he traveled to another country in May 2026 and met officials there in an attempt to persuade them to use their official powers and influence to help achieve that objective.