Garnik Isagulyan Arrested

The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia reports that Garnik Isagulyan, the president of the "National Security" party, has been arrested on suspicion of making public calls for violence.

According to a statement released by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, the Heavy Crimes Investigation Division of the Yerevan investigative department initiated a criminal case following a video posted on YouTube titled "The person who assassinates Nikol should be awarded the title of National Hero or a million-dollar reward." It was established as a result of investigative and procedural actions that during a press conference, Garnik Isagulyan publicly made calls for violence against the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia based on political and other views.

On December 23, 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 226.2 of the RA Criminal Code (public calls for violence against a person or group of persons based on gender, race, skin color, ethnic or social origin, genetic characteristics, language, religion, worldview, political or other beliefs, belonging to a national minority, property status, birth, disability, age or other circumstances of a personal or social nature, justifying or promoting such violence publicly).

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Notification: A person suspected of or charged with an alleged crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, by a judicial verdict that has entered into legal force.