Abovyan prison blocks journalist’s family and lawyer visits

PanARMENIAN.Net - Zaruhi Postanjyan, legal representative of journalist Lilit Aghekyan, stated that Aghekyan has been denied the right to meet with her elderly mother and sister, as well as with her legal counsel. Postanjyan reported this via a post on her Facebook page.

According to the post, on May 16, 2025, two separate investigators visited Aghekyan at the Abovyan penitentiary on different cases. One of them summoned a public defender, bypassing Postanjyan, who had been officially requested as Aghekyan’s lawyer. Despite being present near the prison premises throughout the day, Postanjyan was not granted access.

Postanjyan also claimed that the investigators deliberately occupied Aghekyan with procedural delays without conducting any real investigative actions. As a result, the scheduled visitation window expired, and Aghekyan’s 80-year-old mother, who had traveled from Gyumri and waited for six hours near the facility, was unable to see her daughter.

Postanjyan concluded that Aghekyan has been systematically denied contact with her family, her legal representative, and the right to receive legal support. She also accused Abovyan Penitentiary’s warden Heghine Martirosyan of playing an active role in these actions.

Four political factions from the Gyumri city council have issued a statement in support of Aghekyan. The statement was signed by the Armenian Communist Party, the "Our City" alliance, the "Mother Armenia" coalition, and the "My Strong Community" party. They are demanding Aghekyan’s immediate release, noting her role in exposing corruption and other crimes involving Shirak region authorities.