MPs Submit Motion for Release of Avetik Chalabyan: Who Are the Guarantors?

On May 14, National Assembly members Ishkhan Saghatelyan, Seyran Ohanyan, Elinar Vardanyan, Hayk Mamijanyan, Tigran Abrahamyan, and former Deputy Prime Minister Vahe Gabrielyan submitted personal guarantees for the release of Avetik Chalabyan, who was detained on May 14. Chalabyan's defense team has approached the Armenian Prosecutor General's Office on May 25 with these guarantees. The 'Arar' Foundation for Civilizational Studies has also provided a guarantee.

In a statement released by Avetik Chalabyan's defense team, it is noted that 'Public-political figure and member of the 'Homakhmbum' movement, Avetik Chalabyan, is being unjustly accused of an act specified in part 2 of article 163, part 3 of the RA Criminal Code, without any credible evidence and with gross violations of criminal procedural procedures. This act has already been decriminalized under the newly adopted Criminal Code, which comes into force on July 1 of this year.'

Furthermore, the allegation that there is a deliberate pursuit and manifestation of a political order is supported by the fact that just three days after the publication of a well-known obviously fabricated audio recording, Avetik Chalabyan continued his normal life, not interfering with the investigation and not hiding. Nevertheless, this was overlooked, and A. Chalabyan has been subjected to a two-month detention as a precautionary measure for incomprehensible reasons.