“We witness clear elements of political prosecution by the government against its political opponent”։ Human right lawyer Ruben Melikyan commented on new criminal indictment against Mikayel Minasyan

The head of the "Path of Law" NGO Ruben Melikyan commented on the new criminal indictment brought against Mikayel Minasyan, the former ambassador of Armenia in the Holy See. "No matter what accusations will be filed against the former president Serzh Sargsyan or his-son-law Mikayel Minasyan, their other family members, no matter what so called “facts” will come forth, it is worthless to analyze them from the legal perspective. One may undoubtedly speak at least about serious elements of political prosecution. 

 

The sole fact that every time new indictment against Mikayel Minasyan or his family members immediately follows the political statements and serious criticism voiced by Minasyan against Pashinyan and the government does not leave a lot of space for the interpretation. Moreover, we have clearly witnessed the strong critisizm of the high government officials against the judges who rendered decision in favor Minasyan during these criminal proceedings.

 

For example, in his interview the vice-president of National Assembly Alen Simonyan stated that the fact that appellate court cancelled the decision of the first instance court on arresting Minasyan undeniable proved that the judicial system shall be substantially changed and many judges shall be removed. For any unbiased third party this is a strong signal of political prosecution pending against Minasyan."