Initiating Public Support Process for Armen Ashotyan and Other Political Prisoners – Ruben Melikyan

We are initiating a public support process for Armen Ashotyan and other political prisoners. Public figures who wish to join the statement presented below are encouraged to contact the organizing group. This was announced by lawyer Ruben Melikyan on his Facebook page.

He also noted: "Thank you for spreading the initiative on social networks. Armen Ashotyan’s imprisonment is yet another manifestation of political persecution against regime opponents. We view it as a message from the authorities to our society and to those individuals ready to fight for Armenian identity, for our state, and against the annihilation of Armenian Artsakh.

Today, the challenge is to ensure broad public mobilization in support of those leaders currently imprisoned and those who may find themselves in a similar situation in the future, as their defense today is a matter of public self-defense.

We insist that Armen Ashotyan is a political prisoner, we demand the cessation of persecution against individuals for their political views and the release of all political prisoners."