Five Supporters of the Movement Detained for 72 Hours: Statement by the 'Five Human Rights Defenders' Initiative

On the night of May 14-15, the ruling regime carried out a series of entirely arbitrary detentions. This was announced by the 'Five Human Rights Defenders' initiative.

“At least five citizens, including Ishkhan Gevorgyan, a member of the 'Free Justice' organization, have been detained for 72 hours as active supporters of the 'Tavush for the Homeland' movement. The detained citizens have been visited, and their defense has been taken on by human rights defender Varazdat Harutyunyan.

They were apprehended on baseless suspicions of illegal possession of weapons, which was naturally refuted during a personal search. Nevertheless, rather than being released, the citizens were formally arrested.

We declare that there is a clear indication of illegal detention in the actions of the signatories of the relevant prosecutorial act, yet there is no prospect for an effective investigation into the act given the political power of the ruling force,” the statement reads.