Court Finds Narek Malyan Guilty

The court has found public and political figure Narek Malyan guilty. Judge Susanna Gzogyan announced the verdict: ‘The court has decided to acknowledge Narek Malyan as guilty under part 2, item 2 of Article 329, and the measure of restraint will remain unchanged.’

It is noteworthy that Narek Malyan has been detained under Article 329 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. This article defines as a punishable act ‘public speech aimed at inciting hatred, intolerance, or hostility against an individual or a group based on their political views.’ The prescribed punishment ranges from 1 to 4 years.

The factual basis for the charges stems from a spontaneous gathering in Republic Square on September 19, during which a live broadcast was conducted on Malyan’s Facebook page. In a written statement to the police, Malyan declared, ‘What I did, I did well, I did not do enough, I will do more.’

Narek Malyan considers his detention to be a form of political persecution.