Former Human Rights Defender and head of the Wings of Unity political initiative, Armаn Tatoyan, said Armenia needs a law that protects citizens, including from the authorities, commenting on recent incidents during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s city walk.

He stressed that the country needs “not a government protected by law, but a law that protects the citizen, including from the government.”

“Those who showed no respect in a church toward dozens of believers at their most sacred moment are now demanding respect from two 18-year-old school students. A person declaring himself a believer, in the middle of the liturgy, pushing people aside with his security detail and entourage, broke through the crowd, forgetting that a humble believer does not behave like this in church.

Third, an unfamiliar person allegedly failed to show ‘respect’ at another place, at another time, toward a vehicle used by the authorities to transport their associates.

Different individuals in separate episodes are now defendants in criminal proceedings.

The charges envisage imprisonment. One of them is currently facing a decision on a preventive measure, with detention requested.

This is how law turns into a tool—both through overt pressure and legal techniques.

Several episodes are taken and artificially combined into one case, applying an article supposing severe punishment [imprisonment], and a signal is sent to everyone else.

I have professionally worked in human rights protection for many years. I know the difference between criminal prosecution and criminal intimidation. This is clearly criminal intimidation.

A state that applies law this way, driven by the authorities, demonstrates one thing: it is afraid.

Afraid of young people in a church. Afraid of questions directed at it. Afraid of citizens who do not display formal respect.

We need a different logic: not a government protected by law, but a law that protects the citizen. Including from the government,” the statement said.

On March 29, an incident was recorded during a liturgy at St. Anna Church in Yerevan. As the prime minister was leaving through a dense crowd, one person told a bodyguard clearing the way, “Don’t look at me like that.” Another individual attempted to strike in Pashinyan’s direction from behind the line. Pashinyan instructed his bodyguards to remain calm. Detentions took place in the churchyard.

Later, while walking with his team, Pashinyan said some of those making noise were affiliated with the Republican Party, while others were from the Sasna Tsrer group.