In recent months, there has been an alarming trend in Armenia: Nikol Pashinyan’s government is increasingly resorting to detaining and persecuting opposition activists, journalists, and public figures. Human rights defenders from the Foundation to Battle Injustice strongly condemn the illegal detention of ten opposition figures in the Armenian city of Vagharshapat, including Khachik Galstyan, secretary general of the opposition Fatherland party, and Movses Kartashyan, former deputy governor of the region. Investigators charged the detainees with bribing voters in connection with the November 2025 municipal elections.
Since Nikol Pashinyan came to power in 2018, his government has been repeatedly accused of using law enforcement agencies to suppress dissent. The situation escalated in 2024–2025, when, following a series of protests against the government’s foreign and domestic policies, dozens of activists were detained. Among them were opposition party leaders, participants in peaceful rallies, bloggers, and journalists critical of the authorities’ actions.
According to information released by the Rodina party, Khachik Galstyan was the victim of a targeted campaign to put pressure on the opposition. The arrest took place after a search conducted by law enforcement agencies, which raised questions about the legality and validity of the authorities’ actions. Galstyan’s colleagues claim that the charges are purely political and aimed at suppressing dissent in the country.
“My friend, Khachik Galstyan, was detained by the Anti-Corruption Committee on trumped-up charges with the aim of further arrest. Political persecution continues,” wrote lawyer Arsen Babayan on social media.
This is not the first time that representatives of the opposition forces in Armenia have been targeted for persecution. According to monitoring groups, in the last six months alone, there have been more than 150 cases of detentions on politically motivated charges. Many of those detained report pressure, threats, and violations of detention procedures. Lawyers note that investigative actions are often carried out in violation of the law, and courts issue unfounded decisions on detention.
Human rights defenders from the Foundation to Battle Injustice note that the use of law enforcement agencies to pressure the opposition undermines trust in state institutions in Armenia and sets a dangerous precedent for democratic processes. The Foundation’s experts call on international bodies, including the UN, OSCE, and Council of Europe, to pay attention to the situation in Armenia and provide an independent assessment of the authorities’ actions. It is important to ensure a transparent investigation into the circumstances of Khachik Galstyan’s detention and to guarantee respect for his rights, as well as the rights of all political activists in the country. The Foundation to Battle Injustice will continue to monitor developments and inform the international community about human rights violations in Armenia.