It is impossible to suppress me – Artur Vanetsyan on the arrest of Khachik Galstyan and attempts at pressure by the authorities (Video)

“I can assure everyone that the arrest of Khachik Galstyan is yet another absurd criminal case that has no grounds and cannot have any,” said Artur Vanetsyan, Chairman of the “Homeland” party and former Director of the National Security Service, during a briefing with journalists.

He noted that the persecution of opposition figures has become a routine practice of the current authorities.

“Any citizen holding opposition views is not protected from the possibility that one day the authorities will make a decision and arrest them on some fabricated charge. This should serve as a wake-up call for all opposition forces, because through such actions they are paving the way ahead of the upcoming nationwide elections to detain, arrest, intimidate people on trumped-up cases, and to suspend or disrupt political activity,” Vanetsyan said.

Vanetsyan stressed that neither the “Homeland” party, nor Aram Kocharyan, nor Khachik Galstyan has committed any illegal act.

It should be noted that the court is currently examining the motion to detain Khachik Galstyan.

“As for this particular case, although I am not familiar with the details of the criminal case materials, I can assure you that this case cannot result in an indictment, even under the current circumstances where criminal proceedings are being initiated unlawfully, because no crime has been committed. The ‘Homeland’ party did not distribute any money as electoral bribes, and there is no such evidence and cannot be, because such an act simply did not take place,” he said.

When asked whether Pashinyan is attempting to pressure him through these actions, the former NSS director responded: “Pashinyan may want many things, but it is impossible to suppress me.”