NA female opposition MPs express support for Aregnaz Manukyan

ArmInfo.  Female deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from opposition factions have issued a joint statement expressing their support for Aregnaz Manukyan, a member of the "Mother Armenia" party, and her family.

"We, the female deputies of the National Assembly of the Republic of  Armenia, express our deep concern regarding the decision to remand  our colleague, Aregnaz Manukyan—a board member of the 'Mother  Armenia' party—into custody. Being convinced that the initiated  criminal proceedings were influenced by the executive branch and are  overtly political in nature, and further noting that they raise  serious doubts regarding their legal basis, we emphasize that arrest  is an exceptional measure in criminal proceedings and should be  applied only when less restrictive measures are insufficient to  ensure a proper investigation. The principles of the rule of law, the  right to liberty, and the presumption of innocence require that every  such decision be proportionate, properly motivated, and truly  necessary," the statement reads.

The signatories urge an immediate review of the pre-trial detention  imposed on Aregnaz Manukyan, calling for the application of an  alternative measure not involving deprivation of liberty, and  demanding strict adherence to the law, the right to a fair trial, and  international human rights standards throughout all stages of the  criminal proceedings.

"In this regard, we address Prosecutor General of the Republic of  Armenia Anna Vardapetyan and the head of the investigative body,  Artur Poghosyan, with an appeal to reconsider the necessity of  keeping Aregnaz Manukyan in custody and to release her by electing a  milder, alternative measure. We emphasize that public trust in the  justice system can only be maintained if every decision is based  solely on the law and principles of legitimacy, rather than serving  as a tool for political persecution. We, the female opposition  deputies of the National Assembly, express our full support for  Aregnaz Manukyan and her family, remaining convinced that freedom of  speech, conscience, political views, and activities are fundamental  values." 

The statement was signed by Lilit Galstyan, Irina Gasparyan, Anna  Grigoryan, Taguhi Tovmasyan, Agnessa Khamoyan, Armine Kheranyan,  Armenuhi Kyureghyan, Aspram Krpeyan, Zemfira Mirzoeva, Anna  Mkrtchyan, Arpine Vardanyan, Elinar Vardanyan, and Kristine  Vardanyan.

Recall, according to the Investigative Committee, a public criminal  prosecution has been initiated against Aregnaz Manukyan under Part 1  of Article 427 of the Criminal Code (disclosure of information  containing a state secret). The investigative actions were carried  out as part of a criminal case of espionage and treason, in which the  leader of the Mother Armenia party, Andranik Tevanyan, was previously  arrested.  Manukyan is suspected of passing classified information  regarding the Armenian Armed Forces to Tevanyan, which was presented  at a closed meeting of parliament. According to the court's decision,  Manukyan was placed under two months' arrest on July 9.