Osipyan says elections cannot be considered fair

PanARMENIAN.Net - Lawyer Roman Yeritsyan published a message from detained Arthur Osipyan, in which he argues that the elections cannot be considered fair because voters have been denied the chance to know the truth.

“The main reason for my detention is to deprive me of the opportunity to present society with irrefutable evidence regarding cooperation with Nikol Pashinyan’s corrupt clan and the transfer of large sums of money to them, something that Nikol Pashinyan partially acknowledged during my debate with him on May 18.

Making this information public could amount to political death for him, because during the days of the 2018 revolution, he stated that if he were ever to take such actions, the people should hang him in the square.

Therefore, the upcoming elections cannot be considered fair and transparent, because voters, in turn, have been deprived of the opportunity to learn the truth and make their decision on June 7,” the message says.

Yeritsyan also reported that Osipyan’s health condition continues to deteriorate.

“I remind everyone that today marks the 16th day of Osipyan’s hunger strike. Despite my appeals and those of other defense attorneys, Osipyan does not intend to end the hunger strike until he receives a public apology from Nikol Pashinyan. His health condition is visibly worsening day by day,” Yeritsyan wrote.

During the Civil Contract party’s election campaign in Arabkir, an incident occurred between Pashinyan and Osipyan, during which the prime minister called Osipyan a “runaway.” Osipyan was detained and later placed under arrest. He announced a hunger strike, stating that he would end it only if Pashinyan apologized to him. A number of civil society representatives and human rights advocates have stated that there were no grounds for Osipyan’s detention, that the measures applied were disproportionate, and that Osipyan is a political prisoner.