During an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, lawmakers voted on a declaration submitted by the opposition Hayastan faction titled “On the existence of political prisoners in Armenia and the restoration of their violated rights.” The proposal failed to make it onto the session’s agenda, with 52 votes against and 21 in favor, mostly along party lines. The ruling Civil Contract party holds a majority.

Earlier, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs had already issued a negative conclusion on the initiative, again with Civil Contract members voting it down, according to Sputnik Armenia.

MP Elinar Vardanyan from the Hayastan bloc argued that Armenia does have political prisoners, who meet the criteria outlined in PACE Resolution 1900 of 2012. Before the vote, she stated that political persecution in the country had visibly intensified.

“The authorities have turned into a tool for political persecution, repression, and retaliation, while detention has become a method of punishment and of cultivating fear in the country,” Vardanyan said.

She added that public figures, politicians, clergy, and even families of fallen soldiers are being targeted for their views.

In response, Vladimir Vardanyan, chair of the State and Legal Affairs Committee, criticized the approach, saying the issue should have been addressed through parliamentary hearings, not through a declarative statement.

“Otherwise, you’re generating artificial traffic and artificial debate in Parliament,” he said. “Ms. Vardanyan, do you really believe such a declaration should be adopted by the National Assembly? Doing so would require the dismissal of the Prosecutor General, judges, and sweeping action throughout the legal system.”

He also urged the opposition not to equate Armenia with authoritarian regimes, insisting that there are no political prisoners in the country.