Opposition MP questions house arrest tactic

PanARMENIAN.Net - Opposition MP Tigran Abrahamyan said the authorities’ growing reliance on house arrest as a preventive measure aims to reduce public outcry and restrict individuals’ ability to communicate.

National Assembly “I Have Honor” faction lawmaker Tigran Abrahamyan wrote on his Facebook page that the authorities’ tactic of choosing house arrest as a preventive measure has a clear objective.

“The authorities’ strategy of opting for house arrest as a preventive measure has a simple aim — to distance themselves from noise and headaches and to deprive a person, to the greatest extent possible, of the opportunity to communicate,” he noted.

According to the MP, when detention is applied in politically motivated cases, the opposition camp and civic initiatives traditionally possess tools that have been used with varying effectiveness. However, under conditions of house arrest, the situation appears less encouraging.

“Mikael and Mkrtich Srpazans, Davit Hambardzumyan, Samvel Karapetyan, Artur Sargsyan, and a long list of active public figures and clergy who are not currently in prison but are under significant restrictions through house arrest.

The authorities are maneuvering to avoid both internal and external noise, which requires a response and action appropriate to the situation,” he wrote.